Related Federal Cases
- Patrick Yazzie-Tso, Violent Assault, New Mexico 2023 · New Mexico
- Patrick Wadsworth, Assault with Serious Bodily Injury, NM 2024 · New Mexico
- Deandre Lamont Brown, Domestic Intimate Partner Assault, New Mexico · Puerto Rico
- Cornelia Tom Tapaha, DUI Assault with Vehicle, New Mexico · Wyoming
- Gary Begay, Assault with a Deadly Bottle, New Mexico 2015 · New Mexico
Patrick Yazzie-Tso, Assault, New Mexico 2016
A harrowing incident of domestic violence has come to an end in New Mexico, with 28-year-old Patrick Yazzie-Tso, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleading guilty to federal assault charges today in federal court in Albuquerque.
According to the indictment, Yazzie-Tso was arrested in January 2016, after he allegedly assaulted a non-Indian victim by punching her repeatedly on the head and face, slamming a large painting canvas on her, and strangling her by wrapping his hands around her neck and throat. The brutal attack took place on Pojoaque Pueblo in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, on December 13, 2015.
Yazzie-Tso was subsequently indicted on February 9, 2016, and charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and strangling an intimate partner. Despite initially facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, Yazzie-Tso opted to plead guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement.
After entering his guilty plea, Yazzie-Tso was remanded into federal custody and will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. This disturbing case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence on victims and their families.
The case was investigated by the Northern Pueblos Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services and the Pojoaque Pueblo Tribal Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle leading the prosecution.
As the Grimy Times continues to shed light on the darker corners of our society, it is essential that we hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and work towards creating a safer, more just community for all.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
