⏱ 2 min read
A 34-year-old Shiprock man’s vicious attack on a victim in June left them for dead, but the perpetrator’s reign of terror ended with a guilty plea in federal court.
Darrin Begay, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, unleashed a brutal assault on the victim on June 30, 2025, punching, kicking, and strangling them until they were visibly injured on the face, neck, and arms.
The next day, Begay returned to the victim’s home, threatening to harm their family members and dragging them away in a vehicle. He continued the assault in the car before pushing the victim out onto the roadside.
Begay faces up to life in prison for assault by strangulation and kidnapping charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
The FBI and Navajo Police Department investigated the crime with assistance from the Department of Criminal Investigations.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Assault
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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