Thompson also was ordered to pay $57,415.02 to the Navajo Housing Authority to pay for damage caused by his criminal conduct. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and John Billison, director of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.
Thompson and his twin sister, Christina Thompson, were arrested in October 2013 on an indictment charging them with willfully and maliciously setting fire to an occupied rental unit at the Navajo Housing Authority in Ojo Amarillo, located on the Navajo Reservation on Jan. 9, 2013.
On Feb. 18, 2014, Thompson pleaded guilty to the indictment and admitted setting fire to his former girlfriend's residence on Jan. 9, 2013. Thompson resided in the victim's apartment until she ejected him after he had a "forceful physical interaction" with her.
As Thompson's resentment towards the victim grew, he began putting into place plans to burn her residence. Thompson's sister drove Thompson to the victim's residence on Jan. 9, 2013, where he shattered a window so he could unlock the door and enter the residence. Once inside, Thompson poured gasoline in the residence. After igniting the gasoline, Thompson fled from the residence with his sister's assistance.
Thompson admitted that he did not check to see if anyone was in the residence when he lit the fire, and that he burned the victim's residence to retaliate against her.
Christina Thompson entered a guilty plea to the indictment on April 11, 2014, and admitted helping her brother set fire to the victim's residence. Christina Thompson admitted driving her brother to the victim's residence where he set the residence on fire.
She also admitted helping her brother flee from the site of the arson. Christina Thompson was remanded into federal custody after entering her guilty plea and remains detained pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Shiprock man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of child
ALBUQUERQUE -- Gilbert Yazzie, 45, who resides in Shiprock, pleaded guilty in federal district court here to felony information charging him with aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Yazzie will be sentenced to eight years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Yazzie also will be required to register as a sex offender.
Yazzie was arrested in June 2013, based on a criminal complaint alleging that he engaged in a sexual act with a Navajo child under the age of 12 years. According to court filings, Yazzie sexually abused the child victim on June 15, 2013, in a residence in Shiprock.
During the change of plea hearing, Yazzie admitted that on June 15, 2013, he engaged in a sexual act with the child victim.
Yazzie has been in federal custody since his arrest. He remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
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