Date: 08-30-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Kenneth Lee Begay

Case Number: 1:23-cr-01471

Judge: Matthew L. Garcia

Court: The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (Bernalillo County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Assaulting Tribal Officer
U.S. Attorney Secures Sentence for Man Who Assaulted Tribal Officer

On the morning on June 4, 2023, the Newcomb Community Chapter held a fiscal-planning meeting. About 12 people attended, including tribal officials and community members. During the meeting, Kenneth Lee Begay, 60, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, spoke publicly, expressing frustration over homesite leases and grazing rights.

As he spoke, Begay grew increasingly agitated, berating officials and making threats, prompting an official to call the police, at which time Begay left. According to officials, this was the first meeting Begay had attended.

Officers from the Navajo Police Department arrived at Begay’s residence shortly thereafter to investigate Begay’s threats. Begay accused the officers of trespassing and ordered them off his property. The officers complied and spoke to Begay from beyond his fence line. Begay admitted attending the meeting and threatening officials, so the officers attempted to arrest him. Begay resisted, leading to a confrontation during which officers used pepper spray.

One officer suffered a shoulder separation, multiple abrasions, and was on medical leave for a month. The other officer sustained a shoulder sprain and was on leave for five days. Both received treatment at Northern Navajo Medical Center and have since returned to duty.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to three years of supervised probation

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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