In U.S. District Court in Seattle, Joseph Michael Quincy Jefferson, a member of the Lummi Nation, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for Assault by Strangulation. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller made the announcement. Jefferson, aged 36, was convicted in January 2025 following a seven-day jury trial. U.S. District Judge Lauren King emphasized Jefferson's history of domestic violence at the sentencing, stating, "your abuse of others has become a pattern… You return to strangulation again and again."
Acting U.S. Attorney Miller remarked, "This case is testament to the importance of our work in tribal communities. Studies reveal that being a victim of strangulation significantly increases the risk the victim will be killed at the hands of their abuser. Holding Mr. Jefferson accountable now is the best way to protect future victims."
Court records and trial testimony reveal that on April 8, 2023, Jefferson physically assaulted and strangled his live-in partner. He applied pressure to her neck while sitting on her back, causing her to black out twice. The victim fled the scene barefoot and in her underwear, seeking help from a friend and a neighbor. She went to the Lummi Nation Police Department and to the hospital, where she reported consistent details to both law enforcement and medical personnel. She sustained a broken nose and other injuries consistent with strangulation.
Jefferson argued self-defense during the trial, while the victim minimized his actions in her testimony. Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee called for a 57-month sentence, emphasizing Jefferson's history of domestic violence and noting the ineffectiveness of shorter sentences previously imposed by the Lummi Tribal Court. Lee stated, “Given Jefferson’s history, his conduct, and his behavior while under supervision, the Court is frankly left with no viable alternatives to a lengthy term of imprisonment. Thus, a significant custodial sentence at this juncture is appropriate, just, and would promote respect for the law..."
Jefferson has been held in custody since October 2024 after his bond was revoked for violating pretrial release conditions through ongoing contact with the victim. The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI, with Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee prosecuting. Ms. Lee also functions as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which oversees public safety on tribal lands in the Western District of Washington.
