Navajo Man from Sanostee Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Milton Washburn, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Sanostee, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assault charges.  Under the terms of his plea agreement Washburn will be sentenced to 46 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Washburn was arrested on Oct. 23, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting another Navajo man on Oct. 19, 2014, by running over the victim with a vehicle.  Court filings reflect that officers of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety responded to a call reporting that the victim had been deliberately run over by a vehicle and was seriously injured.  The victim was taken to the hospital where he received medical treatment for a number of internal injuries, including rib fractures, a collapsed lung, a damaged liver, and a spinal fracture.

 On Nov. 5, 2014, Washburn was indicted and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a vehicle, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  According to the indictment, Washburn committed these crimes within the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Washburn pled guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and admitted that on Oct. 19, 2014, he ran over the victim with a vehicle after he engaged in an altercation with the victim.   Washburn acknowledged that the victim suffered multiple injuries as a result of the assault.
Washburn has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Farmington office of the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raquel Ruiz-Velez and Elaine Ramirez are prosecuting this case.