Alexander M.M. Uballez U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
A Fruitland woman has been sentenced to 33 months in prison following a violent assault that occurred in February 2023. Richelle Rose Upshaw, aged 24 and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty on October 17, 2024, to two felony charges: assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Court documents reveal that on February 21, 2023, Upshaw and three other women traveled approximately 23 miles from the Journey Inn in Farmington to her trailer located on the Navajo Nation. During this journey, fueled by alcohol consumption, multiple physical altercations took place among the group. Upon reaching her trailer, Upshaw demanded that the other women leave. A confrontation ensued between Upshaw and Jane Doe, culminating in Upshaw stabbing Doe in the head with a pocketknife.
Jane Doe was subsequently taken to Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock for treatment of her serious injuries. Meanwhile, Upshaw fled but was later apprehended by officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department at a nearby residence. Officers reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol upon arresting her.
Following her prison term, Upshaw will be under supervised release for three years.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.
The case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary C. Jones and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting this case.
