U.S. Attorney Secures Sentence for Man Who Assaulted Tribal Officer

ALBUQUERQUE – A Newcomb man was sentenced to three years of supervised probation for assaulting a Navajo Nation Police Department officer following a community meeting during which he threatened tribal officials and later engaged in a confrontation with law enforcement. The Navajo Nation Police Department officer is considered a “federal officer” by virtue of her holding a special law-enforcement cross-commission certification.  

According to court documents, on the morning on June 4, 2023, the Newcomb Community Chapter held a fiscal-planning meeting. About 12 people attended, including tribal officials and community members. During the meeting, Kenneth Lee Begay, 60, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, spoke publicly, expressing frustration over homesite leases and grazing rights.

As he spoke, Begay grew increasingly agitated, berating officials and making threats, prompting an official to call the police, at which time Begay left. According to officials, this was the first meeting Begay had attended.

Still image from the Zoom recording of Begay, right.

Still image from the Zoom recording, first depicting Begay yelling at officials.

Officers from the Navajo Police Department arrived at Begay’s residence shortly thereafter to investigate Begay’s threats. Begay accused the officers of trespassing and ordered them off his property. The officers complied and spoke to Begay from beyond his fence line. Begay admitted attending the meeting and threatening officials, so the officers attempted to arrest him. Begay resisted, leading to a confrontation during which officers used pepper spray.

One officer suffered a shoulder separation, multiple abrasions, and was on medical leave for a month. The other officer sustained a shoulder sprain and was on leave for five days. Both received treatment at Northern Navajo Medical Center and have since returned to duty.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s 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 Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

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