Pinedale Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Federal Voluntary Manslaughter Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Alvin Charley, 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Pinedale, N.M.,  was sentenced today in Albuquerque, N.M., to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his voluntary manslaughter conviction.

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.

On Jan. 28, 2015, 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.

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, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez.