Kyle Joseph Harney-Chee, Involuntary Manslaughter, New Mexico 2021

Pojoaque Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Kyle Joseph Harney-Chee, a 31-year-old man from Pojoaque, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

According to publicly available court records, on January 16, 2021, Harney-Chee was traveling down US Highway 84/285 after consuming marijuana and alcohol. While driving, he became distracted by his phone and looked away from the road. While he was looking down at his phone, Harney-Chee struck a motorcycle from the rear, killing the driver.

Harney-Chee immediately stopped on the side of US Highway 84/285 and called 911. He informed responders that he had consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana prior to operating the vehicle and complied with the follow-up investigation by following directives and assisting officers.

Officers found several pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes, one cigarette half-burned, several grams of marijuana, a pipe with a burned substance, as well as several empty and half-empty bottles of liquor in Harney-Chee's vehicle.

Upon his release from prison, Harney-Chee will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

• Defendant: Kyle Joseph Harney-Chee
• Criminal Charges: Involuntary Manslaughter
• City and State: Pojoaque, New Mexico
• Date: August 15, 2023 (sentencing)
• Sentence: 30 months in prison

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/pojoaque-man-sentenced-30-months-prison-involuntary-manslaughter