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Press Release

Navajo, N.M., Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter Conviction

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Mervin Ervin Charley, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Navajo, N.M., was sentenced this afternoon to ten years in federal prison for his voluntary manslaughter conviction.  Charley will be on supervised release for two years after completing his prison sentence.

Charley was arrested on Jan. 21, 2014, on an indictment charging him with second degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.  According to the indictment, Charley killed a two-year-old child on May 30, 2013, by placing the victim in a situation that endangered the victim and resulted in the victim’s death.

On July 18, 2014, Charley entered a guilty plea to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter, and admitted killing the victim in the heat of passion on May 30, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.

Updated January 26, 2015