Member of Navajo Nation sentenced to five years in prison for abusive sexual contact in Indian Country

               ALBUQUERQUE N.M. – Garrith Bitsilly, 33, of Newcomb, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Oct. 29 in federal court in Albuquerque to five years and three months in prison for abusive sexual contact in Indian Country.

              Bitsilly pleaded guilty to this offense on June 1.  In his plea agreement, he admitted committing this crime on the Navajo Reservation in San Juan County between Feb. 1, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2014. Bitsilly acknowledged that he caused sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 at a family member’s residence.

              In addition to his prison sentence, Bitsilly will be subject to nine years of supervised release.           

              The Farmington office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas is prosecuting the case.