Kayenta Woman Sentenced to Prison for Injuring Children during Car Accident on Navajo Nation Indian Reservation

     PHOENIX – Today, Larrissa Helen Smith, 29, of Kayenta, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a car accident that resulted in injuries to four minor children.  Smith had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     During the early morning hours of March 20, 2017, Smith was driving on Highway 163 on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation when she caused her Chevy Tahoe to go airborne and then crash into a dirt embankment.  The vehicle contained four unrestrained children, all of whom suffered injury as a result of the crash.  Laboratory testing revealed both alcohol and methamphetamine in Smith’s system at the time of the accident.  Smith is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-08153-PCT-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-068_Smith

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