Pinedale Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Voluntary Manslaughter Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Alvin Charley, 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Pinedale, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning to a voluntary manslaughter charge.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, Charley will be sentenced to 120 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

According to court filings, Charley killed another Navajo man on Aug. 15, 2014, by stabbing him in the chest.  The crime occurred on the Navajo Indian reservation in McKinley County, N.M., during a fight between Charley and the victim.

During today’s proceedings, Charley pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter.  In entering his guilty plea, Charley admitted stabbing the victim in the chest during a fight that began after the two men had been drinking alcohol and arguing.

Charley 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 Albuquerque and Gallup offices of the FBI and the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez is prosecuting this case.