Hotevilla Man Gets 7.5 Years for Brutal Stabbing

PHOENIX, AZ – Melvin C. Yazzie, 40, of Hotevilla, Arizona, will spend the next seven and a half years in federal prison for a shockingly violent assault. U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes handed down the 90-month sentence this week, followed by three years of supervised release, for the brutal stabbing of a man near Fort Defiance in 2015.

The attack, which took place on September 8, 2015, wasn’t a quick flash of anger. According to court records, Yazzie engaged in a physical altercation with the victim before escalating to a relentless stabbing. The defendant repeatedly attacked the victim with a knife, inflicting a total of eighteen wounds.

Miraculously, the victim survived the onslaught, but required extensive hospitalization for numerous days. The sheer ferocity of the attack speaks to a level of rage and disregard for human life that the court clearly took seriously. Both Yazzie and the victim are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, adding another layer of complexity to the case.

Yazzie previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, acknowledging his responsibility for the horrific act. The investigation was a joint effort between the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, highlighting the cooperation between tribal and federal law enforcement in pursuing justice on Native American lands.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiyoko Patterson, of the District of Arizona, Phoenix, skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence that led to Yazzie’s conviction and subsequent sentencing. The case number is CR-16-08022-PCT-DLR, and the release number is 2017-045_YAZZIE.

This case serves as a grim reminder of the violence that continues to plague communities across the nation. While a lengthy prison sentence offers some measure of accountability, it does little to undo the trauma inflicted on the victim and their family. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar instances of violent crime.