Navajo Man Gary Begay Pleads Guilty to Brutal 2015 Assault

Albuquerque, N.M. — A savage 2015 assault on the Navajo Indian Reservation has ended in a guilty plea from Gary Begay, 23, of Kirtland, N.M. The enrolled member of the Navajo Nation admitted in federal court today to beating a man with his fists and a bottle, shattering teeth and inflicting serious bodily injury during the attack on March 14, 2015, in San Juan County.

Begay was indicted in June 2016 on two counts: sexual assault and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Today, he pleaded guilty to Count 2—assault resulting in serious bodily injury—under a plea agreement that carries a mandatory nine-year sentence in federal prison. The court will determine the length of supervised release at a later date.

Court documents detail a brutal, unprovoked attack. Begay admitted to striking the victim repeatedly, using both hands and a glass bottle. The assault left the man with permanent dental damage and other severe injuries. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation, triggering federal prosecution due to the reservation’s legal status.

Federal authorities moved swiftly once the indictment was issued. The FBI’s Farmington office led the investigation, working in tandem with the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. Evidence collected at the scene and witness testimony built a damning case against Begay, ultimately leading to his arrest and plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle is prosecuting the case, which will now proceed to sentencing. No date has been set, but the nine-year prison term is binding under the terms of the plea deal. The outcome delivers a measure of justice for a crime that shocked the tight-knit Kirtland community.

The case underscores the federal government’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crime on tribal lands, where jurisdictional complexities often delay justice. With cooperation between tribal, local, and federal agencies, convictions like this serve as a warning: violent acts on the reservation will be met with full federal force.