Indian Wells man arrested for stabbing

A n Indian Wells, Ariz., man is under investigation for a stabbing that occurred at the Navajo Housing Authority complex on Sept. 12.

The victim, Kerry Davis Yazzie, 30, of Tsaile, Ariz., was transported to the Dilkon Police District about 9 p.m. Once police saw that he was bleeding heavily, he was transported to the Winslow hospital for treatment.

Yazzie had three stab wounds to the left side of his stomach and lacerations to his head. He told police that he had been stabbed by Christopher Spencer, 23, of Indian Wells.

Police immediately went to Spencer's home and detained him.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Yazzie and Spencer were at a drinking party when an argument began and the two began fighting. The suspect then stabbed the victim several times.

The case was referred to Criminal Investigations and the FBI.

LeChee man assaulted

A LeChee, Ariz., man was assaulted and stabbed by three men on Sept. 11.

The victim, Myron Martin, 25, was intoxicated when he began walking home about 2:30 a.m. He was walking on Power Lane Road near the Tsinniginnie Trailer Court when three unknown suspects approached him and started fighting.

One of the three pulled out a knife and stabbed Martin in the right stomach area below his rib cage. Martin then walked to the nearby NHA complex, where people called the police.

EMTs from Page responded and treated him on the scene before transporting him to the Page hospital.

The investigation is continuing.

Page man dies in rollover

Details are sketchy but police are reporting that a Page, Ariz., man died in a one-vehicle rollover near Tuba  City on Sept. 10.

The victim was identified as Desbah H. Trujillo. The accident occurred near milepost 333 on State Highway 264.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the victim pinned under the car.

Phoenix man faces federal charges

Federal charges have been filed against a Phoenix man in connection with a domestic violence call in Fort Defiance on Aug. 21.

Edith Monroe, 38, of Fort Defiance, called police and said she had been battered by her boyfriend, James Wascher, 44.

She said that  she and her 17-year-old daughter had returned from a family gathering in the suspect's vehicle when she got in am argument with Wascher over the keys to the car. The daughter tried to intervene but Monroe said she was battered.

She also told the police that this was not the first time that Wascher had gotten violent. In fact, she said, Wascher had been told to leave sometime in the past but told her he had no place to go so he kept hanging around.

Since the suspect is a non-Native, the case was referred to the U.S. attorney's office which ordered that Wascher be picked up on federal charges of misdemeanor assault.

Ganado man sentenced to 3 years

PHOENIX - Jerad Chee, 18, of Ganado, Ariz., was sentenced to three years in federal prison. In May 2009, Chee pleaded guilty to armed robbery, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

On Feb. 1, 2009, Chee and his co-defendant and brother, Jerrison Chee, 26,  robbed a gas station and convenience store in Ganado at gunpoint.

The brothers entered the store with bandanas covering their faces. Jerrison Chee brandished a .22-caliber revolver and demanded money from the store clerk, while Jerad Chee, in possession of a BB gun, stood guard at the door.

The pair fled the store with cash that was taken from the store clerk during the robbery. Jerrison Chee also pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison on Aug. 10, 2009.

Low Mountain man sentence for meth possession

PHOENIX - Arnie Tsosie, 38, of Low Mountain, Ariz., was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On June 30, 2009, Tsosie pleaded guilty in federal court to that charge, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Because Tsosie was on supervised release at the time that he committed the drug offense, he was also sentenced to a five month concurrent prison sentence for that offense.

On March 18, 2009, Tsosie was sitting in a vehicle that was parked with the engine running on the roadway in Low Mountain when a Navajo police officer made contact with him. Tsosie was detained by the officer who believed Tsosie appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance.

During a search of Tsosie's vehicle, the officer seized drug paraphernalia and 34 bags of a substance containing methamphetamine. Lab results confirmed that Tsosie was in possession of 1.2 grams of actual methamphetamine on March 18, 2009, which he intended to sell.

Woman sentenced for stealing from tribe, elder

PHOENIX - A Fountain Hills, Ariz., woman has admitted to stealing from both the local tribal government that employed her, and later from an elderly woman who was availing herself of tribal social services, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Monica Thompson, 42, said that between November 2005 and December 2006, while employed by the Salt River-Maricopa Indian Community as manager of the Temporary Aid to Needy Families program, she stole more than $87,000 from the tribe.

Thompson admitted doing so by submitting approximately 36 fraudulent invoices requesting payments for goods and services purportedly purchased by the tribe.

She also admitted that between October 2008 and February 2009, while employed by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation as a social worker supervisor, she gained access to the checking account of a 76-year-old woman who was a client of the social services agency and stole approximately $24,000.

Thompson pleaded guilty to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and use of an unauthorized access device. Each is a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing is scheduled Dec. 7, 2009.

Kykotsmovi man sentenced to 7 years

PHOENIX - Vincent Abel Selina, 28, of Kykotsmovi, Ariz., was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Selina pleaded guilty May 21, 2009, to voluntary manslaughter based on an incident on the Hopi Reservation, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

After an extended alcohol fueled argument on Dec. 28, 2008, Selina assaulted and killed his stepfather with a piece of firewood.

Back to top ^