Eagle Butte Man Pleads Not Guilty to Assault and Child Abuse

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and child abuse. Donovan T. Yazzie, age 27, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 9, 2010. He appeared before US Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 21, 2010, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years on the assault charge and 15 years on the child abuse charge. The charges are merely accusations and Mr. Yazzie is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case. Mr. Yazzie was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.