Navajo Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Federal Assault Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE—On June 17, 2011 in federal court in Santa Fe, Calbert Henderson, a 29-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by two years of supervised release based on his assault with a dangerous weapon conviction. Henderson has been in federal custody since his arrest on March 22, 2010.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Henderson pleaded guilty to shooting two individuals on January 31, 2010 in Jones Ranch, New Mexico, which is located on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Henderson was taken into tribal custody by the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety (NNDPS) on February 1, 2010, and was transferred into federal custody on March 22, 2010, based on a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

According to the criminal complaint, on January 31, 2010, as Henderson was driving his vehicle up a driveway, one of his victims (Victim A) was reversing down the driveway and crashed into Henderson’s vehicle. Victim A reacted to the crash by pushing and yelling at Henderson. As Henderson attempted to drive away, Victim A began hitting Henderson’s vehicle as he ran along the side of the vehicle. Henderson responded by grabbing a handgun and firing several shots at Victim A. Victim A was shot in the groin, causing trauma to his upper left thigh, and the other victim of Henderson’s assault was shot through the base of her right thumb.

Henderson pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with assaulting two individuals with a dangerous weapon on August 10, 2010, under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NNDPS, is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Presliano Torrez.