NAVAJO MAN SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR MURDER OF NAVAJO NATION POLICE SERGEANT

PHOENIX – Today, Victor Bigman, 49, of Kaibeto, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 35 years in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Bigman pleaded guilty to second degree murder on April 5, 2012.

Bigman had been charged with first degree murder for the killing of Navajo Nation Police Sergeant Darrell Curley on June 25, 2011. He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of second degree murder. The plea agreement contained a stipulated sentencing range of not less than 25 years, and not more than 35 years, in prison. Court documents indicate that Sergeant Curley was attempting to take Bigman’s son into custody when Bigman shot and killed him. Bigman admitted at his change of plea hearing that he shot Sergeant Curley four times.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution is being handled by Roger Dokken and Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-11-8156-PCT-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER:   2012-177(Bigman)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/