PHOENIX, AZ – Donovan Chaca, 38, of Second Mesa, Arizona, will spend the next 67 months behind bars after being sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow. This comes on top of 23 months already served after prior prosecutions in Hopi Tribal Court, bringing his total sentence to a hefty 90 months for a pattern of brutal domestic violence.
Chaca pleaded guilty to two serious federal charges: assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner and assault by strangling or suffocating a dating partner. The attacks weren’t isolated incidents; they occurred in August 2014 and January 2015, painting a picture of sustained abuse. Both assaults targeted another member of the Hopi Tribe.
The crimes unfolded on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Hotevilla, Arizona. This location brings federal jurisdiction into play, allowing the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute Chaca alongside the Hopi Tribal Court. The sentencing underscores the federal government’s commitment to addressing domestic violence, even within tribal lands.
Investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency) painstakingly built the case against Chaca. Their work, combined with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, ensured Chaca faced justice for his actions.
The Hopi Reservation, like many Native American communities, experiences disproportionately high rates of domestic violence. This case, while focused on one perpetrator, highlights the broader issue and the need for continued resources and support for victims. The 90-month sentence sends a clear message: such violence will not be tolerated.
Case Number: CR-16-8005-PCT-GMS. Release Number: 2017-001_Chaca. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow them on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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