Tucson Man Charged with First Degree Murder

PHOENIX—A federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a five-count indictment this week against Eugene Joseph Escalanti, 33, of Tucson, Arizona, for First Degree Murder, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Kidnapping, Felony Murder, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

The indictment alleges that on July 19, 2009, Escalanti kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered an adult man on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Escalanti is a member of the Quechan Indian Tribe and is currently in state custody in the Gila County Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges.

A conviction for First Degree Murder, Kidnapping, or Felony Murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. A conviction for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury or Assault with a Dangerous Weapon carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, Judge Susan R. Bolton will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Gila River Police Department, the Tucson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Brian E. Kasprzyk and Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.