Fulton C. Potter Plead Guilty Faces 10 Years for Strangling His Wife at Mescalero

In a plea deal released this week by the US Department of Justice New Mexico office Fulton C. Potter plead guilty to strangling his wife.

According to court records, Fulton C. Potter, 29, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pleaded guilty in federal court to assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating.

In his plea agreement, Potter admitted that he strangled his wife, Jane Doe, on November 24, 2023. The document reads that “on November 24th, 2023, I placed my hands around the neck of my wife and strangled her,” admitting guilt.

The Court ordered that Potter remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison per the terms of the plea agreement plus a fine of up to $250,000 plus 3 years supervised release. 

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.

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