Milton Washburn Pleads Guilty to Assault Charges in New Mexico

A Navajo man from Sanostee has pleaded guilty to federal assault charges in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Milton Washburn, 29, admitted to deliberately running over a fellow Navajo man with a vehicle on October 19, 2014.

The victim, who was seriously injured, suffered multiple internal injuries including rib fractures, a collapsed lung, a damaged liver, and a spinal fracture. Washburn was arrested on October 23, 2014, and has been in federal custody since. He remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

According to court filings, officers of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety responded to a call reporting that the victim had been deliberately run over by a vehicle. The victim was taken to the hospital where he received medical treatment.

On November 5, 2014, Washburn was indicted and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury today in federal court.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raquel Ruiz-Velez and Elaine Ramirez are prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Farmington office of the FBI.

As part of his plea agreement, Washburn will be sentenced to 46 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. The case is a stark reminder of the violent crimes that can occur on Native American reservations.

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