Post by Okwes on May 23, 2007 10:05:30 GMT -5
Navajo medicine man accused of raping teen girl
A Navajo medicine man faces charges in New Mexico state court for allegedly
raping a 15-year-old girl in 2002.
David Filfred, 68, denied having sex with the girl, who became pregnant and
gave birth to a daughter. But DNA tests showed the child to be Filfred's.
The victim said she never came forward due to Filfred's status as a medicine
man. She feared he would "put some type of spiritual harm on her" if she
reported the assault, an arrest affidavit quoted by The Farmington Daily Times
states.
Federal authorities initially investigated because both Filfred and the
victim live on the Navajo Nation but it was later determined that the incident
occurred in Farmington after a powwow. Filfred allegedly bought the girl and her
cousin beer and drank with them.
A Navajo medicine man faces charges in New Mexico state court for allegedly
raping a 15-year-old girl in 2002.
David Filfred, 68, denied having sex with the girl, who became pregnant and
gave birth to a daughter. But DNA tests showed the child to be Filfred's.
The victim said she never came forward due to Filfred's status as a medicine
man. She feared he would "put some type of spiritual harm on her" if she
reported the assault, an arrest affidavit quoted by The Farmington Daily Times
states.
Federal authorities initially investigated because both Filfred and the
victim live on the Navajo Nation but it was later determined that the incident
occurred in Farmington after a powwow. Filfred allegedly bought the girl and her
cousin beer and drank with them.