Edwin C. Johnson, Assault with a dangerous weapon, New Mexico 2015

A New Mexico man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for an ax attack on his girlfriend, a San Carlos Apache woman. Edwin C. Johnson, 36, was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and attempt to commit murder.

The assault occurred on December 7, 2015, in McKinley County, N.M. Johnson, who is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used an ax to attack his girlfriend, causing a gash about four centimeters long and bloody discharge from both ears. She also experienced cranial pressure and swelling, and was flown by helicopter to the trauma hospital at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

Johnson was arrested on December 9, 2015, and subsequently indicted on December 17, 2015, on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and attempt to commit murder. He pled guilty to all three charges on January 25, 2016.

The case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Adams. The case was brought as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project, which seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez commended the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety for an outstanding investigation that made the defendant account for his criminal conduct and helped the victim and her family move forward with their course of healing. Director Jesse Delmar of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement officers in Crownpoint for pursuing the case and bringing justice to the victim.

The case highlights the importance of addressing the disproportionately high rates of violent crimes against Native American women and children. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project is a step in the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in tribal communities.

Johnson will serve 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The victim and her family have finally received the justice they deserve, and we hope that this case will serve as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Justice has been served, and we can now begin to heal and move forward.

Related Federal Cases