Peridot Man Sentenced for Assault with Bottle on Reservation

PHOENIX – In a grim turn of justice on the reservation, Jeremiah Johnson, a 26-year-old from Peridot, Ariz., and member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 45 months in prison for his assault with a dangerous weapon.

Johnson had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a victim on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, an act that not only injured the victim but also gravely endangered the life of a child. The evidence presented revealed that in June 2015, Johnson threw a full, 40-ounce bottle of alcohol at the victim, who was holding a child at the time. Tragically, the bottle struck the child, resulting in serious injury.

The victim and the injured child are also members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, adding an indigenous American layer to this harrowing incident.

Investigating this case was the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Phoenix, handling the prosecution.

This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who commit heinous acts on reservations, and it underscores the commitment of federal authorities to protect indigenous communities.

CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01409-PHX-DJH

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-021_Johnson