United States Attorney Cole Finegan | U.S. Department of Justice
Daniel Lehi, a 44-year-old resident of Towaoc, Colorado, has been sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. The sentence follows his guilty plea to one count of assaulting a federal officer.
The incident occurred on April 5, 2024, at the Ute Mountain Ute Casino in Towaoc, located within the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. A Bureau of Indian Affairs Officer responded to a report of an intoxicated individual identified as Lehi. During the encounter, Lehi lunged at the officer and struck him in the face. Despite intervention by additional security personnel, Lehi continued to resist until officers managed to subdue him.
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher considered various sentencing factors before issuing the sentence, including Lehi's history of assaults on law enforcement officers.
“Assault on a law enforcement officer is a serious offense, and this defendant received a serious sentence for his actions,” stated Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. He further acknowledged the BIA officer for effectively managing the difficult situation.
Mark Michalek, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge, emphasized their support for the victimized officer and their commitment to justice in cases involving assaults on law enforcement officers. “Such acts will not go unanswered, and we will work tirelessly to ensure accountability,” he said.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Durango Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Franceware led the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00182-GPG
