Nespelem Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Domestic Violence

SPOKANE, WA—Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Tommie Joe Flett, age 41, of Nespelem, Washington, was sentenced on Monday, August 5, 2013, after having previously pleaded guilty on April 29, 2013, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender. United States District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle sentenced Flett to a 34-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.

According to information disclosed during the court proceedings, on June 5, 2012, Flett entered an apartment where his girlfriend was watching a movie with her girlfriend. Flett entered the living room and began hitting his girlfriend, then after knocking her to the ground, Flett began kicking her. Flett then choked his girlfriend. He then brandished a knife and cut her on the shoulder. The victim fled to a bathroom, where Flett brandished another knife, held it to her throat and said he wanted to kill her. Colville Tribal Police Department officers entered the apartment after a witness called 911. Flett was found in the apartment and arrested.

Michael C. Ormsby stated, “Domestic violence is an ongoing problem that requires decisive action. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is, and will continue to be, committed to aggressively prosecuting domestic violence crimes that occur within federal jurisdiction, including the Indian reservations in the District.”

This investigation was conducted by FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Rudy J. Verschoor, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.