Henderson Castillo Sentenced

A brutal assault on the Navajo Indian Reservation has landed Henderson Castillo, 27, in federal prison. Castillo, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Nageezi, N.M., was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for his conviction on federal assault charges.

The incident occurred on Dec. 4, 2015, when Castillo and another man attacked the victim, hitting him in the face, kicking his body and face, and striking him with an ax. The victim suffered an open fracture to the bone between his elbow and shoulder, requiring two surgeries.

Castillo was arrested on Dec. 28, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. He was subsequently indicted and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

On June 24, 2016, Castillo pled guilty to both counts of the indictment. In his guilty plea, Castillo admitted to physically assaulting the victim, striking and kicking him several times, and then hitting him with an ax. This admission confirmed the severity of the crime and the harm inflicted on the victim.

The investigation was conducted by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease. The sentence handed down to Castillo reflects the seriousness of the crime and the need to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Castillo will serve his prison sentence and then be placed on supervised release for one year. This sentence serves as a reminder that violent crimes will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The community can take comfort in knowing that those who commit such heinous acts will face justice and be held accountable for their actions.

The Navajo Nation and surrounding communities have faced numerous challenges related to violent crime, and this sentence demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to addressing these issues. By working together, these agencies can help create safer communities and prevent such crimes from occurring in the future.