Warren Weeks, left, and Emmett Yazzie are the newest Navajo police sergeants.

Photo by Jim Maniaci/Independent

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Plea bargain in burglary

Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The state dismissed charges of rape and kidnapping against Clarence Sampson on Monday when he pleaded no contest to a third offense, aggravated burglary.

The state alleged in a lawsuit against Sampson, a resident of Phoenix, that he raped and kidnapped a Gallup woman and burglarized her home.

The state agreed to drop charges of rape and kidnapping, and Sampson pleaded no contest to aggravated burglary.
Aggravated burglary is a second-degree felony, and District Judge Grant Foutz sentenced Sampson to nine years in prison for his crime.

Sampson was arrested on Nov. 28, 1998.

According to the lawsuit, he forcefully entered the home of a local woman that night and raped her.

The lawsuit against Sampson said he confined her in her home for the purpose of inflicting physical injuries and sexual harm. For restraining her in her home, Sampson was charged with kidnapping.

Sampson also burglarized the woman's house.

Sampson has been at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center since Nov. 28, 1998.

His time at the jail up to now will count toward the nine years he must complete for aggravated battery. He will be sent to the State Department of Corrections in Santa Fe.

A jury trial was scheduled for Sampson at the McKinley County District Court.

No trial took place because Sampson pleaded no contest. A no contest plea means Sampson chooses not to argue his innocence in a trial, but does not admit guilt.

In exchange for his no contest plea, the state dismissed the first charge of rape, which is also a second-degree felony, and the second charge of kidnapping, a first-degree felony.

The punishment for a first-degree felony is 18 years in jail, a $15,000 fine or both.

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Tribal officer overcome by smoke

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

CROWNPOINT — A Navajo police officer suffered smoke inhalation while searching a burning house over the weekend.
Officer Tony Becenti Jr. was released from the Indian Health Service hospital in Crownpoint Monday. The fire occurred early Saturday.

Becenti entered the flaming house around 3:30 a.m. because police and security officers on the scene wanted to be sure no one was inside, said Capt. Daniel K. Thomas, commander of the Crownpoint Police District. The officers did not know at the time that the house was unoccupied.

Security Officer Beb Beyale of Crownpoint Institute of Technology spotted the fire in the Mutual Help Housing subdivision and turned in the alarm.

Beyale, Becenti, Sgt. Irene Marble of the Crownpoint District, Indian Health Service security officer Kent Henry and school security officer Daryl Cowboy battled the fire until the Crownpoint Volunteer Fire Department arrived.

The unidentified occupants of the house were moving out, and police believe the blaze started at a stove. There was no immediate estimate of the damage.

Vehicle falls on man

CHURCH ROCK — A father and daughter were injured Sunday afternoon when a propped-up vehicle fell on him and the flying debris cut the girl.

Taken to the Indian Health Service hospital in Gallup was Benson Willie, 49, who lives near Becenti Trail Road, and a daughter, age 10. She suffered a 5-inch cut on her right arm. His injuries were not described in the initial report.

Although both were injured, they got to the Mustang store in the Springstead neighborhood and called for help, according to the Crownpoint Police District report.

The vehicle rolled a bit from its braces, and the engine came down on Willie while he was under the vehicle, according to the report.

DUIs

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Department of Corrections booked the following adults on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol:

Window Rock (April 5-9) Leonard Jesus, 32, Steamboat; Adelbert Whitney, 23, Nazlini; Jeffery J. Gaddy, 44, Wide Ruins; Doris J. Sneddy, 36, hometown unknown; Stella Begay, 33, Klagetoh; Raphael J. Cummings, 18, Dilkon; Carl R. Yazzie, 19, Holbrook, and Marie Showie, 36, Fort Defiance.

Tuba City (April 3-9) Mary Lou Tsinnie, 32, Tuba City; Henry Williams, 46, Cameron; Bernard Johnson, 36, Kayenta; Austin Boyd, 65, Black Mesa; Stanford Stacey, 37, Tuba City; Darren Dempsey, 31, Leupp; Thomas Sloan, 25, Page; Gary L. Sloan, 41, Tuba City; Marcus Tsinnie, 19, Tuba City; Jerry L. Spencer, 37, Tuba City, and Teresa Swift, 30, Tuba City.
Shiprock (April 3-9) Linda Houge, 35, Farmington; Maynard Iyuma, 27, Shiprock; Lennie Becenti, 28, Shiprock; Leonard Lewis, 28, Sanostee; Lula Johnson, 43, Farmington; Naomi Begay, 31, Shiprock; Melvin Beyale, 40, Two Grey Hills; Rex Yazzie, 36, Shiprock; Mrytis Rockwell, 27, Shiprock; Edison Yabeny, 39, Shiprock; Anthony Singer, 22, Mexican Hat; Anthony John, 34, Shiprock; Jimmie Whitehorse Jr., 35, Ismay, Colo.; Willis Hardy, 35, Sweet Water; Fannie Fasthorse, 45, Red Valley; Tasha Henry, 19, Naschitti; Randy Lee, 24, Shiprock, and Karlos Yazzie, 19, Shiprock.
Kayenta (April 4-8) Raymond Curley, 28, Chilchinbito; Lee Nez Jr., 42, Black Mesa, and Herman Begay, 50, Monument Valley, Utah.

Crownpoint (April 3-8) Aaron Martinez, 20, Crownpoint; Mack Ramone, 19, Smith Lake; Edward Brown, 20, Borrego Pass; Mark Curley, 42, Gallup, and Darrell Toledo, 30, Little Water.

Chinle (April 4-9) Peter Clark, 30, Chinle; Bernice James, 37, Rough Rock; Jonah Gray, 66, Lukachukai; Edmond Bitsoi, 23, Chinle; Tony Brown, 63, Nazlini; Carl Tso, 68, Blue Gap; Gilbert Brown, 45, Toyei; Luanna Jake, 32, Shiprock; John Jesus, 33, Sawmill; Nelson Etcitty, 24, Round Rock; Rolando Begay, 19, Chinle; Victor Martinez, 32, Chinle; Dillion Yazzie, 19, Forest Lake; Albert James Sr., 55, Low Mountain; Duane Burbank, 31, Chinle; Curtis R. Yazzie, 39, Hard Rock; Sr. Begay, 51, Lukachukai; Allison Tabaha, 37, Many Farms; Dennison Begay, 34, Sawmill; Sam Nez, 57, Pion; Anthony Barney, 64, Fruitland; Dick Emmitt, 41, Rough Rock, and Edwina James, 22, Pinon.

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Navajo police promote two

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo police officials will be looking at promoting some officers in the next few months.

A ceremony was held here Friday to mark the promotion of Navajo police officers Warren Weeks and Emmett Yazzie to the rank of sergeant.

Promotions are rare in the Navajo Police Department because new positions have not been added to the department in years and there has been little turnover in the higher ranks.

But a captain's position is now open. Chief of Police Leonard Butler said applications for the position will close in another week.

The position became vacant on Sept. 15, 1998, when Butler fired Bill Hillgartner, who was a captain in the Shiprock District.

Federal officials charged him with three counts of wire fraud for allegedly attempting to defraud the department and Navajo Townsite of $150,000 in 1996 and 1997.

Currently two of the department's seven districts Chinle and Kayenta are commanded by lieutenants who will get a chance for the rare promotion.

This, in turn, would open up a lieutenant's position and, in turn, another sergeant's spot.

Butler said the Department of Personnel Management will provide him a list of eligible candidates. The applicants will be given a series of tests to determine how they would handle the paperwork that floods a commander's desk.

"There's a written exam that measures their knowledge of personnel policies and procedures and tribal law," Butler said, "to see how they understand the budgeting process, such as conditions of appropriation."

Then there will be the interview board. The chief said other chiefs and sheriffs are invited to be members of the oral examination board.

Butler said when he receives the final recommendation, he will sit down with Herb Clah, director of the Division of Public Safety the Department of Law Enforcement is one of seven in the division to make the appointment.

The chief said he hopes to stay on schedule and have a new captain within 30 days. The two new sergeants began work today as instructors at the department's training academy in Toyei, Ariz. Weeks' previous assignment was in the Tuba City district. Yazzie's previous assignment was in the Chinle district.

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County to CCA: Pay back taxes

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Corrections Corp. of America owes Cibola County more than $2 million in back taxes for the women's facility in Milan. And with an ever-tightening county general fund budget, the county wants its money.

Minutes before the tax issue cropped up at Monday's County Commission meeting, the commission tabled discussions on cutting county employees from working 40 hours a week to 32 hours. The cut was to be considered in a cost-saving move to help take the stranglehold off the county general fund caused by rising county inmate housing costs.

Cibola County now houses some of its inmates in Gallup to save costs and the rest at the CCA-owned jail facility in Milan...

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Cibola fires vote coordinator

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Cibola County commissioners agreed 5-0 to fire Native American Voting Rights Coordinator Calvin Aragon of San Fidel from his $13,929 election-year job of 13 months because he also filed as a county commissioner candidate.

According to his contract with the county, he cannot be a VRC and a county candidate at the same time.

The Acoma Pueblo Native American Voting Rights Coordinator is responsible for developing, directing and carrying out Native American voter-education programs, including bilingual instruction, translation of election materials and assistance as required by the Federal Voting Rights Act...

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Vets' march to support MacDonald

Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — The family of former Navajo Nation Chairman Peter MacDonald has not lost hope that he will one day be moved closer to the Navajo Reservation.

"That's very eminent now," Wanda MacDonald, his wife, said Monday.

She feels it's so eminent that she refuses to purchase airplane tickets to visit her husband at his federal medical prison in Fort Worth...

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Navajos lobby for road money

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo tribal leaders are planning to speak to a U.S. Congressional committee today in the hopes of shaking loose more federal dollars to pave reservation roads.

Navajo President Kelsey Begaye, in his testimony before the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., plans to argue that economic development on the Navajo Reservation can't happen unless more roads are paved.

The 25,000-square-mile reservation, home to an estimated 220,000 residents, has only 21 grocery stores, 42 restaurants, 13 motels, six banks and 77 convenience stores, he says. Three-fourths of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs roads on the reservation are dirt, with only 1,373 miles paved...

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Cadets enjoy airplane ride

Carrie Loretto
Special to the Independent

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Students at St. Michaels Indian School were treated to a visit from a former Thunderbird commander, Col. Brian T. Bishop recently, a visit which was highlighted by four Civil Air Patrol cadets taking a 20-minute flight in his plane.

"Brian wanted to do something for the cadets in appreciation for my time working with him and his team when he was commander of the Thunderbirds," Sister Judy Franz said, explaining Bishop's current mission.

"He really believes in promoting the Air Force. This was something he did all on his own, though. He owns the plane and he paid for the fuel to come here and give the kids a ride..."

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Romero sees spotlights ahead for native actors

Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent

TUBA CITY, Ariz. — Joanelle Romero sees more spotlights ahead for Native American actors thanks to a lot of lobbying in Hollywood.

Romero, one of many native stars who will visit the Navajo Nation during Stars in the Desert this weekend, said she wants to see more Indians acting. However, she noted that they are not getting any roles in prime time.

"We're not on any of the prime time shows and that has to change," she said...

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Host Shiprock boys win title

Shiprock Invitational

SHIPROCK - The Shiprock Chieftains grabbed top team honors during Saturday's Shiprock Invitational.

Shiprock finished on top with 96 points just ahead of Bayfield, Colo. with 92 points. Mancos, Colo., took third with 80 points, followed by Dolores, Colo., 72; Ganado 71, Window Rock 65; Thoreau 48; Pagosa Springs, Colo., 47; Zuni 36; Norwood, Colo., 13; Dove Creek, Colo., 11; Newcomb 10; Navajo Prep 8; Crownpoint 7; Monument Valley 5; Whitehorse, Utah 4; and Pine Hill 3. Dulce, Nucla and Wingate did not score...

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Deaths

Jose M. Garcia

GALLUP — Funeral services for Jose M. Garcia, 76, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at the Door Gallup Christian Center. Pastor Gregory Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Gallup City Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5-7:30 p.m. today, April 11, at Cope Memorial Chapel. A rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m.

Garcia died April 8 in Gallup. He was born April 28, 1923, in Los Pinitos.

. Garcia went to school until the 10th grade, then enlisted in the U.S. Army in July, 1943. He served in World War II and received an honorable discharge in October, 1945. He owned Hedges Service Station in Gallup and retired from there.

Survivors include his wife, Mary V. Garcia of Gallup; sons, Juan Garcia, Fernando Garcia, Patrick Garcia, Fabian Garcia, and Ronald Garcia, all of Gallup, Curtis Garcia of Zuni, Herman Garcia of St. Johns, Ariz., and Louis Garcia of Albuquerque; daughters, Helen Garcia and Glenda Schnakenberg, both of Gallup, Priscilla Vallejos of St. Johns, Ariz., and Delores Molina and Josephine Garcia, both of Grants; sister, Lola Landavazo of Los Chavez; 41 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

Garcia was preceded in death by his parents, Triburcio and Tranquelina Garcia; four brothers; and seven sisters.

Pallbearers will Anthony Garcia, Fernando Garcia Jr., Curtis Garcia Jr., Esco Garcia, Juan Garcia Jr., Ricky Garcia, Martin Molina Jr. and Manuelito Garcia.
The family will meet following the services at Western Skies Recreation hall.

Cope Memorial Chapel of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.

Timothy Charles Morgan

PHOENIX — Services for Timothy Charles Morgan, 38, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at the Chinle Catholic Church. The Rev. Blane Grein will officiate. Burial will be in Chinle Community Cemetery.

Morgan died April 8 in Scottsdale. He was born July 1, 1961, in Brigham City, Utah.

Surviviors include his wife, Regina Morgan of Phoenix; father, Edison Morgan Sr. of Fort Wingate; mother, Treva Morgan of Shiprock; sisters, Michelle Eighinger of Little Rock, Ark., Sharon Morgan of Shiprock, Sandra Morgan of Tempe Ariz., and Bobbi Upshaw of Church Rock; brothers, Eddie Ray Morgan of Flagstaff, Ariz., Edison Morgan Jr. of Fort Wingate, Mark C. Morgan of Albuquerque, and Mike C. Morgan of Phoenix; and maturnal grandfather Dan Parker of Shiprock.

Pallbearers will be Eddie Ray Morgan, Edison Morgan Jr., and Mike Morgan.

Rollie Mortuary of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.

Bertha Gray Herrera

BLUEWATER VILLAGE — Services for Bertha Gray Herrera, 70, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor Jimmie Largo will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.

Herrera died April 8 in Gallup. She was born March 17, 1930, in Crownpoint into the Towering House People Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.

Herrera was a resident of Bluewater Village. She was a homemaker and rug weaver.

Survivors include her husband, George Herrera of Bluewater Village; sons, Darrell Grey of Bluewater Village, James Tom Begay of Crownpoint and Tony Benally of Chichiltah; daughters, Alice A. Delgarito, Virginia B. Tom, Sarah Begay, Josephine W. Sloan, Bernice Begay, Laberta Grey and Freda Begay, all of Bluewater Village; sister, Francis Pablo of Littlewater; 40 grandchildren; and 38 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be family members.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in chaen they held the Red Nations Celebration at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood. The previous three Red Nations Celebration had been held in Santa Fe.

Romero, who has acted more than 20 years, is looking forward to Stars in the Desert but she is also looking forward to May 1 when the Screen Actors Guild will hold a panel discussion about the lack of Indian actors in Hollywood today. The panel will include Russell Means, Larry Sellars, Gary Robinson, and Romero.

Romero is co-developing and co-directing the docGallup is in charge of arrangements.

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