Peach Springs Man Gets 59 Months for Rifle Assault

Lonewolf Deray Havatone, Sr., 34, of Peach Springs, Ariz., a member of the Havasupai Tribe, is headed to federal prison for nearly five years after assaulting a Hualapai tribal member with a rifle and threatening to kill her. On Oct. 24, 2016, U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi handed down a 59-month sentence, marking the end of a violent episode that unfolded two years earlier on tribal land.

The attack occurred on Sept. 23, 2014, on the Hualapai Nation Indian Reservation. Havatone, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, struck the victim with a rifle during a confrontation. Witnesses reported he brandished the weapon, issued death threats, and fled on foot while still armed—forcing Hualapai Police Department officers into a dangerous foot pursuit to take him into custody.

Havatone eventually pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in federal court. The charge carried significant weight due to his status as a prohibited possessor and the severity of the assault. Prosecutors noted the victim suffered both physical and psychological trauma, underscoring the brutality of the attack in court filings.

The 59-month sentence reflects a five-month reduction for time already served in tribal custody related to the same incident. Following his prison term, Havatone will face three years of supervised release, during which he will be monitored by federal authorities and barred from possessing firearms under strict conditions.

The investigation was led by the Hualapai Nation Police, whose officers were instrumental in tracking down Havatone the night of the assault. Their collaboration with federal authorities ensured the case was prosecuted under U.S. law, reinforcing jurisdictional protocols on tribal lands when violent felonies occur.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Covault handled the prosecution for the District of Arizona. The case, filed under CR-15-8268-JJT, highlights ongoing efforts by federal and tribal law enforcement to address violent crime in Indian Country. For updates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office can be followed on Twitter @USAO_AZ or visited online at justice.gov/usao/az.