District Sentencing

D.N.M. · Sex AbuseFY2018–FY2025

Districts › District of New Mexico

Sex Abuse in the District of New Mexico

D.N.M. · Tenth Circuit · Sex Abuse nationally

The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.

18cases, FY2025205 over FY2018–FY2025
144median prison monthsnational, this offence: 180
31%within guideline rangenational 41%
—cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
<10
5%
9%
19%
17%
14%
17%
6%
6%
median 144 mo
under 6 mo6–11 mo1–2 yr2–3 yr3–5 yr5–10 yr10–15 yr15–20 yr20–30 yr30 yr+life
Share of cases with a prison term, by length of the term (203 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: sexual abuse offences nationally.

Interquartile range 61–240 months; mean 168. 12 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

205 sexual abuse offences were sentenced in the District of New Mexico across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 18 of them in FY2025; that is 1% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 144 months (12 years), shorter than the national median for sexual abuse offences (180 months) and close to the Tenth Circuit median (164). Half of prison terms fell between 61 and 240 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

31% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 41%); 51% were below the range on a government motion and 13% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had more cases than FY2018 (18 against 14). The median prison term in FY2025 (168 months) was longer than in FY2018 (48 months).

These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.

§ 3Position relative to the guideline range

Within guideline range 31%Above range 6%Below range, government sponsored 51%Below range, other 13%Not determinable 0

§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation

MeasureD.N.M., sex abuseD.N.M., all offences10th Cir., sex abuseUS, sex abuse
Cases per fiscal year262,6231211,239
Share of district caseload1.0%100%——
Median prison months1444164180
Mean prison months16819—212
Cases with a prison term—99%98%99%
Within guideline range31%58%40%41%
Above range6%1%8%5%
Below range, government sponsored51%31%36%29%
Below range, other13%10%15%26%
Median final offence level3610—37

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

14
27
21
24
38
31
32
18
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Sex Abuse cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
48
216
97
120
120
168
153
168
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
Fiscal yearCasesPrisonMedian monthsWithin rangeBelow, gov.Below, otherAbove
FY201814100%48———0%
FY201927100%21637%52%—0%
FY202021100%97—57%0%0%
FY202124100%120—58%——
FY202238100%12034%55%—0%
FY202331100%168—42%——
FY202432—15331%44%——
FY202518100%168————

§ 6Criminal history

Category I68% · 67%
Category II15% · 10%
Category III7% · 9%
Category IV<10
Category V5% · 6%
Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: sexual abuse offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.

§ 8Questions and answers

What is the typical sentence for sexual abuse offences in the District of New Mexico?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 144 months (12 years), with the middle half of terms between 61 and 240 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

51% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 13% below it for other reasons; 31% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% over the same period. The district's figures are below on median term and lower than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2A3.1 and §2G2.1.

Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

§ 9Other offence types in the District of New Mexico

§ 10Provenance

Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 27; district is CIRCDIST 80. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.