PHOENIX - Yesterday, Jerrison Begay, 33, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. In January, Begay’s co-defendant, Shelton Six, 28, of Sanders, Ariz., was sentenced by Judge Bolton to concurrent terms of 132 months and 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Six had previously pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of assault by strangling or suffocating, arising out of two separate cases.
On or between Dec. 2, 2015, and Dec. 3, 2015, Six became angry with the victim and began physically assaulting him. Begay participated in the assault. The victim, a member of the Navajo Nation, later died of blunt force injuries and suffocation and strangulation. Both Six and Begay are also members of the Navajo Nation.
On Feb. 14, 2016, Six assaulted a different victim, by threatening and strangling the victim with his hands, making it difficult to breathe. That victim is also a member of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra Sampson and Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBERS: CR-16-8050-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-063_Six_etal
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
