Navajo Man Charged with Assault

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Harley Etcitty made an initial appearance in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Etcitty, 19, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for June 6, 2023.

According to the indictment, on Oct. 9, 2022, in Shiprock, Etcitty assaulted two victims, identified as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 in the indictment, with a knife. John Doe 1 was seriously injured and had to be transferred to Flagstaff for a higher level of care. John Doe 2 received multiple lacerations which required sutures.    

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Etcitty faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.

FBI Farmington Agency investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case.

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