Navajo man sentenced to two years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country

           ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Darrin Begay, 29, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by a federal judge on July 27 to two years and three months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country. Begay pleaded guilty on Dec. 16, 2020.

          According to his plea agreement and other court records, Begay had been living in an inoperable car on the property of his girlfriend’s family in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Begay was not allowed in his girlfriend’s family’s home. The night of August 22, 2020, after arguing via text messages with his girlfriend, identified in court records as Jane Doe, Begay went to her bedroom window and threatened to break the window if she did not let him in. She relented and let him in through the window, but they argued because she did not want him there.

          Jane Doe eventually fell asleep, but upon waking in the morning found that her necklace and other belongings were missing. An argument ensued and Begay pulled a pocketknife from his pocket and slashed her right leg. Jane Doe left the house, but Begay followed her, knocked her down and kicked her multiple times. Begay again threatened her with a pocketknife. Navajo Police arrived and arrested Begay at the scene. Jane Doe was transported to the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock where she was treated for her injuries.

          Upon his release from prison, Begay will be subject to two years of supervised release.

          The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.