White Swan Man Sentenced to 84 Months’ Imprisonment for Assaulting Woman with Shoe

SPOKANE—Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Chet Arlie Moses, age 28, of White Swan, Washington, was sentenced on July 23, 2013, after pleading guilty in March 2013 to committing an assault with a dangerous weapon. United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Moses to an 84-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court supervision upon release from federal prison. Judge Rice also ordered Moses to pay nearly $4,000 in restitution to a Toppenish, Washington hospital and a health services organization.

According to information disclosed at the change of plea and sentencing hearings: On November 9, 2012, Moses, a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the female-victim had a verbal argument. The argument escalated and Moses began beating the female-victim with his fists and a shoe. Moses told the female-victim that he was going to kill her family. The female-victim was able to extricate herself from the scene and immediately contacted the Yakama Tribal Police Department. Tribal Police officers responded and observed that the female-victim was covered in blood. She was transported to the Toppenish Community Hospital where she was provided medical assistance. Thereafter, detectives with the Yakama Tribal Police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Together, the law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Moses’ residence located in White Swan, Washington. At the residence, the law enforcement officers observed a pool of dried blood on a blanket and also discovered a shoe with blood on the sole. Law enforcement officers later interviewed Moses and he confessed that he had assaulted the female-victim.

Michael C. Ormsby said, “Individuals like Chet Moses who commit serious assaults will be prosecuted aggressively and will face lengthy prison sentences. The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Yakama Tribal Police Department, have a no tolerance for individuals who engage in such criminal conduct.”

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Tom Hanlon, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Washington.