TRIBAL JUSTICE NEWS
WEEK OF MARCH 16, 2011

Two New Mexico Men Sentenced for Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on March 8, 2011, Jarin Scott, a 20-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, and Chancey Begay, a 19-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, were sentenced in connection with their guilty pleas of assault and assistance in assault. Scott was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for assault. Begay was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised released for assistance in assault.

http://www.fbi.gov/albuquerque/press-releases/2011/navajo-men-sentenced-to-prison-for-drive-by-shooting

Minnesota Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota)
U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones announced that during a federal court session, on March 9, 2011, Douglas Wayne Tarnow, a 29-year-old resident of Red Lake, Minn., was indicted for aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, Tarnow faces a maximum of life in prison.

http://minneapolis.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/mp030911.htm

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 8, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, Chad Lee Doyle, a 33-year-old resident of Wanblee, S.D., was sentenced to 36 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $100 victim assessment and $8,664.37 in restitution. Doyle was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of involuntary manslaughter.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/RC-2011-03-09-Doyle.html

North Dakota Man Sentenced for embezzlement of a Tribal Organization (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that during a federal court session in Bismarck, N.D., on March 9, 2011, before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Charles S. Miller Jr., James A. Blue, a 26-year-old resident of Belcourt, S.D., was sentenced to two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, a $25 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund and $928 in restitution. Blue was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea for embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/news/2011/03-09-11-Blue Sentenced.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 8, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Benjamin Wayne Kitteaux, a 23-year-old resident of Mission, S.D., pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and aiding and abetting. Kitteaux faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Restitution may also be ordered. Kitteaux’s sentencing has been scheduled for May 23, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/2011/Pierre-2011-03-09-Kitteaux.html

Oklahoma Man Indicted for Murder (U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma)
U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that a federal grand jury indictment was returned on March 8, 2011, accusing Steven Thompson Keeling, a 48-year-old resident of Hominy, Okla., with murder of a Muscogee Creek member. If convicted, Keeling faces up to life in prison.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/okn/press/Keeling,%20Steven%20indictment.pdf

Oklahoma Woman Indicted for Embezzlement and Theft in Excess of $1,000 from an Indian Tribal Organization (U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma)
U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that a federal grand jury indictment was returned yesterday on March 8, 2011, accusing Kimberly Gayle Ward, a 20-year-old resident of Westville, Okla., of embezzling and stealing over $1,000 from the Cherokee Nation Outside Smoke Shop.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/okn/press/Mar2011.pdf

Two Oklahoma Women and One Man Indicted for Embezzlement and Theft in Excess of $1,000 from an Indian Tribal Organization (U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma)
U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that a federal grand jury indictment was returned yesterday on March 8, 2011, accusing Kelly Jean Sartin, Melinda Jane McAfee and Rusty Lee Wallin, of conspiracy and theft by employee of a gaming establishment on Indian Land in excess of $1,000.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/okn/press/Mar2011.pdf

Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan)
U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced that during a federal court session, on March 10, 2011, Christopher Frazier, a 39-year-old member of the Sault Tribe, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 and one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 12. Frazier faces up to life in prison. Frazier’s sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/miw/press/2011_0310_CFrazier.html

North Dakota Tribal Listening Conference (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon has announced that the Tribal Listening Conference will be held on March 16, 2011, at the James Henry Community Center on the campus of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, N.D. The purpose of this Tribal Listening Conference is to bring together tribal leaders and law enforcement leaders to discuss how the U.S. Attorney’s Office can help improve public safety in tribal communities in North Dakota.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/news/2011/03-11-11-Tribal Listening Conference.html

New Mexico Man Sentenced for Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session on March 10, 2011, before District Judge M. Christina Armijo, James Jackson, a 22-year-old member of the Taos Pueblo, was sentenced to three years probation. Jackson was sentenced in connection with his conviction of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session on March 11, 2011, Herbert Harwood, a 49-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html

New Mexico Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session on March 11, 2011, before District Judge James O. Browning, Wesley Rogers, a 50-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Rogers was sentenced in connection with his conviction for abusive sexual contact.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 15, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Keith Sun Bear, a 36-year-old resident of Rosebud, S.D., pleaded guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Sun Bear faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to two years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Restitution may also be ordered. Sun Bear’s sentencing has been scheduled for June 6, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/2011/Pierre-2011-03-15-Sun Bear.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for First Degree Burglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 14, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Troy Young Fairbanks, an 18-year-old resident of Lower Burle, S.D., was sentenced to 21 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment to the Victim’s Assistance Fund and $6,211.61 in restitution. Fairbanks was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of first degree burglary.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/2011/Pierre-2011-03-14-Fairbanks.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Third Degree Burglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 8, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Brian N. LaRoche, a 20-year-old resident of Lower Brule, S.D., pleaded guilty to third degree burglary and aiding and abetting. If convicted, LaRoche faces up to 10 years in prison. LaRoche’s sentencing has been scheduled for May 23, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/2011/Pierre-2011-03-09-LaRoche.html