Kayenta man gets three and a half years for assaulting Navajo Police officers
WINDOW ROCK
A Kayenta man has been sentenced to three and a half years in tribal custody for a July 6 attack that injured three Navajo Police Department officers and left one with lasting memory problems, according to the chief prosecutor’s office.
Courtesy | Navajo Nation Office of the Prosecutor
Anthony Shawn Smith
Records filed in the Kayenta District Court show that Anthony Shawn Smith pleaded guilty to four counts of battery upon a peace officer under Title 17 of the Navajo Nation Code, which is the Criminal Code, Section 316.01. Prosecutors said the counts stemmed from separate assaults on three officers during a prolonged struggle. They said Smith delivered two blows to Officer Gilbert S. Rogers, assaulted K-9 Officer Kendric Phillips and grabbed K-9 Officer Jonah Tsosie’s leg before resisting handcuffing.
Judge Letitia M. Stover of the Kayenta Judicial District imposed the sentence and cited the seriousness of the injuries. In court she said maintaining peace on the Navajo Nation should not mean tolerating behavior that places officers at risk. She also noted Smith’s prior Arizona conviction for assaulting a health care worker as proof of a violent history against public servants.
During the hearing, prosecutors described the daily risks that Navajo police officers face, including those who have died in the line of duty. Rogers told the court he struggled to remember details of the incident and learned later how severely he had been hurt.
Acting Attorney General Colin W. Bradley said the sentence affirms protection for officers. “Our Navajo police officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our communities safe. It is critical that their work be protected by the courts and that those who attack them face real consequences. This sentence underscores that commitment.”
Chief Prosecutor Vernon L. Jackson Sr. said the case is about the safety of families and communities across the Nation.
“Our mission is to protect families and communities across the Navajo Nation. When someone assaults our officers, they are not just attacking individuals in uniform—they are threatening the safety of every community those officers serve. This case is a reminder that we will stand firm in holding offenders accountable, so that our people can live without fear.”
Smith will remain in custody until Jan. 3, 2029, unless granted parole after serving at least half of his sentence. Authorities said he has been held since the incident in July.
The case was prosecuted by Kevin C. Barnett, the acting district prosecutor for the Kayenta District and team lead for the Major Crimes Unit, who represented the Nation through sentencing.
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