Convicted sex offender arrested again for rape

By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times

WINDOW ROCK, Sept. 12, 2013

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The U. S. Marshall's Office reported Friday the arrest of a man in Navajo, N.M. last Thursday for rape.

Peter Andrew Ernst, 26, was arrested on suspicion of five counts of criminal sexual penetration, assault, aggravated battery, kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender, according to a San Juan County Sheriff's Office news release.

Ernst allegedly raped a woman at a home in Aztec. The victim reported the rape to sheriff's office investigators at an Aztec gas station last month.

When police learned of the attack, Ernst left the area for Navajo, about 100 miles south of Aztec.

Ernst is a convicted sex offender, and he last registered in Arizona in 2012, according to the news release.

Rehoboth resident gets 10 for drug trafficking

MacDavis Bahe, 31, who resides in the Rehoboth area, pleaded guilty Friday to a methamphetamine trafficking charge and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Bahe will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Bahe was indicted in June 2012, and charged with distributing methamphetamine and marijuana in McKinley County, between Feb. 2012 and May 2012. He also was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm.

During Friday's plea hearing, Bahe admitted that he distributed methamphetamine on Feb. 17, 2012, to an individual who, unbeknownst to him, was an undercover officer.

Bahe also admitted that he unlawfully possessed a shotgun on May 1, 2012. Bahe acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of the following felony offenses in the 11th Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico Ð burglary, aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm or destructive device.

Bahe was arrested on June 4, 2012, and has been in federal custody since that time.Ê Bahe will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. The remaining counts of the indictment will be dismissed after Bahe has been sentenced.



Diné faces life in prison for sexual assault

Hareldo Horse, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Kirtland, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal district court in Albuquerque to an indictment charging him with sexual assault under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Horse was arrested on March 11, 2013, on an indictment charging him with sexually assaulting a woman in a location within the Navajo Reservation on Oct. 20, 2012. He has been in federal custody since that time. During his plea hearing Tuesday, Horse pleaded guilty to the indictment and admitted inappropriately touching the victim's genitals at a time when the victim was physically incapable of declining to participate in the sexual act.

Horse remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Horse faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Horse also will be required to register as a sex offender.

Contact Bill Donovan at news@navajotimes.com.

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