On June 24, a man from Tucson was dealt a heavy sentence for the sexual abuse of a minor. Roy Samuel Paredes, 64, received a sentence of 235 months in prison, which will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona. This announcement from United States District Judge James A. Soto comes after Paredes' guilty plea on November 8, 2023, regarding his conduct during the summer of 2021.
According to the details of the case, Paredes, who is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, abused a young girl on the Tohono O’odham Nation in Sells, Arizona. The conviction comes as a result of the collaborative investigative efforts of the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Cassell, from the Tucson office.
The severity of the sentence reflects an ongoing movement to address crimes of this nature within tribal communities, where justice is often a complex interplay between tribal, state, and federal law. Paredes' case, identified as CR-22-1914-TUC-JAS, adds to this discourse in a concrete and inescapable manner.
The U.S. Attorney's Office released a statement concerning the sentencing, detailing the long-term commitment to ensuring safety for the victim and the community. "It is an essential step towards healing for the survivor and a clear message to others that such acts will come with severe consequences," they articulated. The specifics of the case and Paredes' subsequent sentencing were published in release number 2024-098_Paredes, available on the office's website as of July 19, 2024.
