A Lummi Nation man facing serious charges after a domestic assault in May was indicted in federal court; 48-year-old Marc Cagey Oreiro pled not guilty to assault by strangulation of his ex-partner.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the arraignment, and U.S. District Judge Lauren King has set the trial for August 25, according to information from the U.S. Attorney's Office. On the night of May 23, on Lummi Nation tribal land, Oreiro allegedly assaulted the victim in the master bedroom of a home, where he was accused of strangling her with his hands and forearm, punching her repeatedly, and threatening her life, before ordering her to hide from police.
The assault was interrupted when Lummi police officers entered the residence after a housemate's emergency call. During the search within the home, officers arrested Oreiro after a physical confrontation. The victim was discovered in the master bedroom closet, visibly distressed and bearing multiple injuries.
Oreiro's indictment stems from a tribal court charge and an FBI investigation, leading to federal charges by criminal complaint and later an indictment by grand jury on June 25, which could carry up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 if convicted, outlines the U.S. Attorney's Office, which emphasizes that the charges are allegations. There is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
The FBI Safe Trails Task Force, alongside Lummi Nation Police, continues investigating the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee, also serving as a Tribal Liaison, is prosecuting.
