Three Subjects Sentenced in Stabbing and Beating of Klagetoh Man

PHOENIX—Pauletta James, Darrell Upshaw, and Eli Yazzie, all of the Navajo Nation, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell for their role in the 2017 stabbing and beating of a Klagetoh, Arizona man during a home burglary.

According to the indictment, on or about June 20, 2017, the defendants did intentionally and knowingly assault a man in his residence with a knife, with the intent to do bodily harm. In addition, the defendants did knowingly possess and brandish a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Burglary in the First Degree.

All three had previously pleaded guilty for their participation in the burglary. James was sentenced to time served and supervised release for a term of one year. Upshaw pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a term of thirty months, and upon release from imprisonment, shall be placed on supervised release for three years. Yazzie pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 46 months, and upon release, shall be place on supervised release for three years.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Navajo Nation Window Rock Criminal Investigations Unit. The prosecution was handled by Robert Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.