ALBUQUERQUE - Shannon Allen, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Mariano Lake, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an involuntary manslaughter charge. Allen’s plea agreement recommends a 34-month prison sentence followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Allen was arrested in Oct. 2017, on a criminal complaint charging her with killing a man on Sept. 23, 2017, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M. According to the complaint, Allen killed the victim when she lost controlled of her vehicle and rolled her vehicle over. At the time, Allen was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Allen subsequently was indicted on Oct. 24, 2017, and was charged with involuntary manslaughter. During today’s proceedings, Allen pled guilty to the indictment and admitted killing the victim while driving recklessly and under the influence of alcohol. Allen acknowledged that the alcohol rendered her incapable of exercising clear judgment and a steady hand in operating the vehicle. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
