PHOENIX, AZ – Justice, slow as it often is, finally arrived for the victim of a particularly brutal crime committed on Navajo land. Vaughn Paul James, 24, of Sanders, Arizona, and Nolan Lewis, 30, of Kykotsmovi, Arizona, were each sentenced to 300 months – 25 years – in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The pair pleaded guilty to second-degree murder-aid and abet, bringing a grim conclusion to a case that stretched back over a decade.
The savagery unfolded on September 10, 2013, near Sanders. James and Lewis subjected their victim to a violent assault. But the beating wasn’t enough. The pair then callously stuffed the still-living man into the trunk of his own vehicle, sealing his fate. Days later, the vehicle was discovered, bearing the unmistakable signs of a desperate attempt to cover up the crime – burn marks around the gas tank.
Investigators quickly determined the victim had not died from the fire. The autopsy revealed the truth: blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The scene inside the trunk was described by sources close to the investigation as horrific. The motive remains largely obscured, adding another layer of darkness to an already disturbing case. Both James and Lewis are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, as was the victim – a fact that underscores the tragedy within a tight-knit community.
The investigation, a collaborative effort, was spearheaded by the dedicated officers of the Navajo Nation Police Department, bolstered by the resources and expertise of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The painstaking work of these law enforcement professionals ensured the case didn’t go cold, and ultimately led to the convictions of James and Lewis. It’s a reminder that even in remote areas, justice can – eventually – prevail.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiyoko Patterson, of the District of Arizona, Phoenix, skillfully prosecuted the case, navigating the complexities of federal law and tribal jurisdiction. Her efforts were instrumental in securing the 25-year sentences for both defendants. The case number is CR-15-8187-PCT-SRB. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona released the sentencing information on March 17, 2017 (RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-030_James_Lewis).
While the sentences offer a measure of closure for the victim’s family and community, they also serve as a stark warning: violence will not be tolerated, and those who commit such heinous acts will be held accountable, no matter how long it takes. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow them on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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