Navajo man sentenced to three years in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury

              ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Derwin Williams, 44, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Oct. 21 in federal court in Albuquerque to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.

              Williams pleaded guilty on June 5. In his plea, Williams admitted to committing the assault on April 23, 2017, on the Navajo Nation. According to a grand jury indictment, Williams and two defendants, Marty Manuelito, 45, and Joelson Talk, 44, who are also members of the Navajo Nation, allegedly went to the victim’s home to retrieve a firearm when they began hitting and kicking the victim, resulting in multiple cuts to his body and face, a broken tooth, fractures to his nose and spine and a concussion.

              Talk pleaded guilty on July 24 and his sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 18. Manuelito entered a plea of not guilty on Aug. 8, 2019, and is awaiting trial.

              The FBI and Navajo Nation Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall prosecuted the case.