Prewitt Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning, a federal judge sentenced John Howard, 27, to a two-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his federal assault conviction.

Howard, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Prewitt, New Mexico, was indicted on March 1, 2012, and charged with (1) assault with a dangerous weapon and (2) assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The indictment alleged that on August 6, 2010, Howard assaulted a man with steel-toed boots, causing the victim serious bodily injury.

Howard entered a guilty plea to count two of the indictment on August 27, 2012. In his plea agreement, Howard admitted repeatedly kicking the victim in the head causing him to suffer significant injury including the loss of vision in his left eye, a fractured nasal bone, and lacerations to his face and head. Howard also acknowledged that the assault occurred within the boundaries of the Navajo Indian Reservation.

The case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack E. Burkhead.