A Shiprock man is facing up to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault charges.
Matthew Yazzie, a 26-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arrested on September 21, 2015 after a federal indictment was issued charging him with assaulting two women and a man on June 13, 2015 in Indian Country in San Juan County, New Mexico.
According to the indictment, the victims suffered serious bodily injuries as a result of the assaults. Yazzie was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, which led to the vehicle crashing.
The case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police, and the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez is prosecuting the case.
Yazzie pleaded guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
The maximum penalty for the crime is ten years in federal prison. Yazzie’s exact sentence will be determined at a later date.
Defendant’s Name: Matthew Yazzie
Criminal Charges: Assault
City and State: Shiprock, New Mexico
Date: June 13, 2015
Sentence: Up to ten years in federal prison
Related Federal Cases
- Patrick Yazzie-Tso, Violent Assault, New Mexico 2023 · New Mexico
- Matthew Vicenti, Domestic Assault by Habitual Offender and Assault by an Intimate Partner by Strangling, New Mexico 2021 · Alabama
- Jason K. Thompson, Assault by Strangulation and Assault with a Deadly Weapon, New Mexico 2025 · Texas
- Preston Marmolejo, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, New Mexico 2013 · New Mexico
- Terrence Fred Cachini, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, New Mexico 2015 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
