Hunter Apachito, 22, entered a no-contest plea in Albuquerque Thursday in a case involving allegations that he pointed a gun at his fiancée and their one-month-old son. Under a deal, he received a suspended prison sentence and will serve probation instead of time behind bars. The case arose from a January incident involving the couple’s infant.
According to KRQE, Apachito pleaded no contest to the charges during Thursday’s court appearance. The agreement suspended his prison sentence and set probation at a year and a half, the station reported.
Police said Apachito was intoxicated when he took the infant from his fiancée’s sister’s apartment without their knowledge, according to KRQE. His fiancée later found Apachito and their son at their own apartment, the report said.
Fiancée Described Alleged Assault While Trying to Get Child Back
Apachito’s fiancée told police that when she tried to take her son back, he punched her in the face multiple times. She also told investigators he pointed a gun at her and the child, according to KRQE.
Before the plea, prosecutors sought to keep Apachito detained while the case moved toward trial, KRQE reported. The no-contest plea resolved the case without a trial.
Apachito Discusses Changes He Says He Made
At the court appearance, Apachito spoke about changes he said he had made since the January incident. He told the court he was sober and no longer using drugs or alcohol, had a new job, and was making healthier choices, according to the station’s report.
Apachito also said he hoped to have the chance to be a father to his son someday. His sentence is suspended while he serves a year and a half of probation; the report did not detail the specific conditions.
New Mexico Context on Firearms and Probation
In its FY2025 report, the New Mexico Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Team, coordinated by the New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center at the University of New Mexico, reported that 23 decedents in 21 reviewed incidents died from firearm-related injuries. The review concerns fatal cases; its findings do not describe the allegations or outcome in Apachito’s case. The New Mexico Corrections Department’s Probation Parole Division says its supervision handbook does not cover an individual’s specific conditions, which vary from case to case. The handbook therefore does not establish Apachito’s probation terms or answer what legal standards apply to suspending a prison sentence or what consequences follow a violation.
