LAS CRUCES—Yesterday, a federal grand
jury sitting in Albuquerque, New Mexico filed a seven-count indictment charging
Peter John Zayas, 27, an Air Force sergeant stationed at Holloman Air Force
Base; and his wife, Sophia Monique Zayas, 30, with child abuse offenses arising
out of the death of their 2-month-old daughter.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said
that Peter and Sophia Zayas were arrested without incident yesterday afternoon
by the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Peter and Sophia
Zayas remain in federal custody pending their initial appearances in federal
court in Las Cruces, New Mexico tomorrow morning.
Count one of the indictment alleges
that, between October 21, 2007 and October 22, 2007, Peter and Sophia Zayas
caused their infant daughter’s death by intentionally torturing and punishing
the child. The penalty for a conviction on this charge is life imprisonment.
Counts two, three, and four allege that,
between October 1, 2007 and October 21, 2007, Peter and Sophia Zayas caused
great bodily harm to their infant daughter by intentionally torturing and
punishing the child. The maximum penalty for a conviction on any one of these
three counts is 18 years of imprisonment.
Counts five, six, and seven allege that,
between August 16, 2007 and October 20, 2007, Peter and Sophia Zayas endangered
the life of their infant daughter by intentionally torturing and punishing the
child. The maximum penalty for a conviction on any one of these three counts is
three years of imprisonment.
According to the indictment, the seven
offenses charged in the indictment allegedly took place in Otero County, New
Mexico at Holloman Air Force Base.
The case was investigated by the FBI and
is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Nathan J.
Lichvarcik.
Charges and indictments are only
accusations. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt.
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