A woman from Polacca, Arizona, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison after being found guilty of causing the death of her 14-year-old son while driving under the influence. The sentencing took place on February 17, 2026, in Phoenix federal court.
Marian Marsha Josytewa, aged 40, received a sentence of 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan issued the sentence after a jury convicted Josytewa in August 2025 on several charges: involuntary manslaughter, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of child abuse, and driving under the influence.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on December 10, 2021, Josytewa drank multiple beers before picking up her teenage sons from school in Flagstaff and attempting to drive them home to the Hopi Indian Reservation. While traveling on a highway through the Navajo Nation Reservation, she lost control of her vehicle and rolled it. Her unbuckled 14-year-old son was ejected from the car and killed as it overturned. A blood test later showed Josytewa’s blood alcohol content was about .113.
The case was investigated by FBI Phoenix (Flagstaff office), Navajo Nation Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine announced the sentencing.
More information about this case can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
