Tse Bonito Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charge

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in Albuquerque federal court, Kyle R. Westbrook, 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Tse Bonito, New Mexico, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. At sentencing, Westbrook faces up to 10 years of imprisonment. Westbrook was remanded into federal custody after entering his guilty plea.

Westbrook was indicted on August 23, 2011 and charged with assaulting a Navajo woman with a metal tent pole on June 26, 2010 in Indian Country within San Juan County, New Mexico. During today’s plea hearing, Westbrook admitted committing the offense charged in the indictment.

In his plea agreement, Westbrook admitted striking his girlfriend, a Navajo woman, with a metal tent pole outside a residence in Crystal, New Mexico, which is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation. Westbrook said the assault occurred during an argument that became physical. He admitted hitting the victim several times with his hands and then hitting her in the face and head with a metal tent pole. According to the plea agreement, two days later, on June 26, 2010, Westbrook told law enforcement authorities that he used the tent pole to hit the victim because he was intoxicated and angry.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that the case was investigated by the FBI and the Window Rock Division of the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.