Man given 6 years for sex assault

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

Sterling Yazzie

AZTEC — The words of Harry Veenstra about the prior record of Shiprock's Sterling Yazzie resulted in a longer sentence than originally planned.

Yazzie, 30, of Shiprock, was sentenced on Monday in District Court and watched on as Veenstra, employed by the states Adult Probation and Parole office, asked District Court Judge Thomas Hynes to consider Yazzies record.

On Nov. 26, Yazzie was arrested for attempted rape in Farmington near a Sonic Drive-In on San Juan Boulevard when he pinned a woman down, attempted to rape her and then fled on his bicycle. The woman's description of a tattoo on his back and the fact that he'd left his wallet at the scene were enough to allow police to hold him as a suspect for the rape.

According to police reports, the woman had met Yazzie near the scene of the crime and noted that he was consuming an alcoholic beverage when he attacked her and removed some of her clothing. During the attack the victim was able to escape and she saw that he had a tattoo of "Yazzie" on his back and that it was spelled out with feathers. She also described the type, color and style of bicycle that he was riding.

When officers found Yazzie, he had scratches and abrasions on his face, neck, chest and hands that were consistent with the claims of the victim.

Prosecutors said the victim told police that Yazzie held a rock above her head during the attack and threatened to kill her if she wouldn't submit to him.

Before Veenstra spoke in court on Monday, Yazzie was likely going to receive six years in prison with two suspended, but his prior record, which included multiple arrests for violent attacks, gave the court all the reason it needed to give Yazzie the maximum eight years, with two years suspended, resulting in a sentence of six years in prison.