Murder in Indian Country: 28-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Garrett Neal, 28, of Sheep Springs, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for second-degree murder in Indian Country.

Neal pleaded guilty on October 29, 2020, to the crime, which occurred in Sheep Springs. According to the plea agreement, Neal and an accomplice engaged in a fight with a man in Sheep Springs, on the Navajo Nation. During the fight, Neal punched and kicked the man while he was on the ground and hit him with brass knuckles and rocks in his head and throat, causing him to sustain fatal injuries.

Neal admitted that he was aware the victim was trying to breathe and had attempted to run away, but did not fight back. The victim died at the scene as a result of the beating.

The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Novaline D. Wilson prosecuted the case.

Upon his release from prison, Neal will be subject to five years of supervised release. The harsh sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of violent crimes committed in Indian Country.

The case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators to justice. The Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety played a crucial role in the investigation, and their efforts are deeply appreciated.

As the community continues to mourn the loss of the victim, this sentence brings some measure of closure. The people of Sheep Springs and the Navajo Nation can rest assured that justice has been served.

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