Involuntary Manslaughter

Sacaton Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter Involving Death of 12-Year-Old Boy


March 16, 2010 - PHOENIX, AZ—Jayal Howard, 40, of Sacaton, Ariz., was sentenced here to 41 months prison, by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt.

The facts showed that on July 11, 2008, Howard was driving a vehicle which contained three passengers, including a 12-year-old boy. Howard was driving on the Gila River Indian Reservation. He was intoxicated to a BAC level of .14 and was driving at an excessive speed when he came to a large pool of water on the roadway. Upon driving through the water, he lost control of the vehicle resulting in a vehicle roll-over. The victim was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.

Howard pled guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter on December 16, 2009.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Sharon Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.