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Navajo Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Douglas Lawrence Bedell, Jr., 31, a member of the Navajo Nation from Dilkon, Arizona, has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for voluntary manslaughter.
On January 4, 2015, Bedell fatally stabbed Brian Lee, another Navajo Nation member, in the throat. The incident took place on the Navajo Reservation.
On May 9, 2016, U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa handed down the sentence. Bedell had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. The case was a result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations.
The prosecution was led by Cassie Bray Woo and Brandon Brown, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Arizona, Phoenix.
According to court documents, the incident was a tragic outcome of a confrontation between the two men. The investigation revealed that Bedell’s actions led to Lee’s untimely death.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served in cases like Bedell’s. As Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassie Bray Woo and Brandon Brown stated, ‘the sentence handed down today reflects the severity of the crime and the need for accountability.’
Bedell’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of community safety and the need for individuals to take responsibility for their actions. The Navajo Nation will continue to work with federal and local authorities to prevent violent crimes and promote a culture of respect and understanding.
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Case Number: CR-15-8023-PCT-DJH
Release Number: 2016-043_Bedell
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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