Tuba City Woman Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Stabbing on Navajo Reservation

     PHOENIX – Today, Tomacita Nez, 41, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 72 months’ prison followed by three years’ supervised release.  Nez had previously pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter. 

     Nez admitted to stabbing the victim during a domestic disagreement outside her home on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  The victim died as a result of his injuries.  Judge Humetewa denied the defense attorney’s request for a lower sentence, describing the offense as “incredibly violent” and finding Nez was a danger to the community.  Both Nez and the victim were members of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-18-08314-PCT-DJH

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-126_Nez

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