Schyler Colfax, Abusive Sexual Contact, Washington 2023

A 46-year-old member of the Makah Tribe has been found guilty of a heinous crime after a three-day trial in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington. Schyler Colfax was convicted of abusive sexual contact against a 13-year-old girl on October 23, 2023.

The young victim had stayed home from school due to illness, and Colfax had regular access to her home on Makah Tribal lands. Adult relatives found Colfax in the victim’s bed and immediately ordered him to leave. The victim then disclosed the abuse to her guardians, who reported the incident to the Neah Bay Police.

The FBI joined the Neah Bay police in the investigation, and a forensic interviewer took a statement from the child. Due to the crime taking place on tribal land and involving tribal members, the case was prosecuted in federal court.

Colfax was indicted in November 2023 and has been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington since his arrest on November 16, 2023.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Harder and Celia Lee, who serve as Tribal Liaisons for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the conviction, stating that justice has been served.

Colfax faces up to two years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on October 29, 2024. He will also be required to register as a sex offender, a consequence of his heinous crime.

The community is breathing a sigh of relief now that the perpetrator has been held accountable. The victim and her family can finally start the process of healing and rebuilding their lives.