Arizona Man Sentenced for Brutal Assault on Former Girlfriend

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down a 20-month prison sentence to an Arizona man who pleaded guilty to an alcohol-fueled assault on his then-girlfriend that left her in need of extensive medical treatment.  

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to publicly available court records, on November 3, 2022, Norbert Michael Tsosie, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Lukachukai, Arizona, assaulted his then girlfriend, Jane Doe, in Dulce, New Mexico. The couple had gotten into an argument earlier in the afternoon while shopping in Farmington. Although it seemed that they had resolved the argument, Tsosie suddenly and without warning became violent in the vehicle Jane Doe was driving. He punched the windshield and dashboard, kicked the window, then turned his attack on Jane Doe. He punched her face, kicked her with his boots, and choked her until she was nearly unconscious. Though she was injured, Jane Doe and Tsosie returned to Doe’s parents’ house.

The next day, Tsosie claimed not to remember what happened. Jane Doe told Tsosie that she wanted to end their relationship, then drove Tsosie around to try to find him a place to stay before she went to the emergency room at San Juan Regional Medical Center. Jane Doe suffered a concussion, cervical strain, ankle sprain, and facial contusion and required additional medical care in the weeks following due to the ongoing pain and injuries from the attack.

Upon his release from prison, Tsosie will be subject to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case.  

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