Baseball Bat & Strangulation: Gishie Gets 8 Years

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brian Jason Gishie, 46, of Ganado, Arizona, is headed to federal prison for eight years after a brutal assault on an intimate partner. Senior United States District Judge David G. Campbell handed down the 96-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, on July 16. The attack, occurring within the Navajo Nation, underscores the persistent threat of domestic violence in vulnerable communities.

The incident unfolded around June 20, 2024, in Greasewood, Arizona. According to court documents, Gishie, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, unleashed a savage beating on his partner, wielding a baseball bat to strike her repeatedly on the head and body. The assault didn’t end there – Gishie then strangled the victim with both hands for several agonizing seconds. Medical attention was required to treat the injuries sustained during the attack.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Gishie boasts a documented history of domestic violence, a pattern of abuse the court clearly considered during sentencing. Records show prior convictions for Aggravated Domestic Violence in Maricopa County back in 2004, and another charge of Assault by Strangling in the District of Arizona in 2019. The repeat nature of these offenses speaks to a dangerous escalation of behavior.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Nation Police Department, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling crime within tribal lands. These officers painstakingly gathered evidence, building a solid case against Gishie. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, then skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence.

Gishie pleaded guilty to both assault with a dangerous weapon and assault of an intimate partner by strangling, acknowledging his culpability in the violent attack. The sentence sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated, particularly within communities already facing systemic challenges. The hope is that this conviction offers some measure of justice to the victim and deters others from engaging in similar acts of violence.

CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08120-PCT-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-123_Gishie
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow them on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest updates.