Christopher Romero, a member of the Southern Ute Tribe, is the first person in Indian Country in Colorado to be sentenced under a new federal law fro habitual domestic violence offenders.

Romero, 36, was sentenced to 37 months for assaulting his ex-wife. Since he was convicted of two prior incidents involving his former partner, he was considered a habitual offender and given tougher punishment.

"In response to the problem of domestic violence on reservations, Congress changed federal law to address habitual domestic violence offenders in Indian Country. This case is the first in Colorado to enforce that new law, in order to protect domestic violence victims – domestic abusers should take note of the stern sentence handed down by Judge [Marcia] Krieger,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh in a press release.

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Ignacio man sentenced to 37 months for habitual domestic violence (The Durango Herald 4/12)