Begaye pleads not guilty in girl’s murder
Tom Begaye Jr.
ALBUQUERQUE
Tom Begaye Jr.
Tom Begaye, Jr. Tuesday pleaded not guilty to each of six counts in connection with the abduction and murder of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike last month.
Begaye, 27, of Waterflow, N.M., was arraigned in U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura Fashing’s courtroom here. His charges include one count of first-degree murder, one count of felony first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of kidnapping, which refer to his abduction of both Mike and her younger brother.
The criminal complaint against Begaye alleges he encountered Mike, also of Waterflow, and her younger brother on May 2 near their home and lured them into his vehicle. He then allegedly drove the siblings to a remote location near the Shiprock monument. The next day, Mike’s body was found after a delayed Amber Alert. Police arrested Begaye May 4.
U.S. attorney David Adams, who was in the courtroom watching the proceedings, is prosecuting the case.
Begaye’s federal public defender is James C. Loonam.
After hearing the plea of not guilty, several members of Mike’s family on her mother’s side left the courtroom with tears running down their faces.
“We are disappointed,” said Mike’s aunt Franchesca Joe, adding, “We are still in shock.”
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