Rocky Point, N.M., Woman Sentenced to Prison for DWI-Related Involuntary Manslaughter and Assault Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE –Adrienne Alexandra Skeets, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Rocky Point, N.M., was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her conviction on involuntary manslaughter and assault charges. Skeets also was ordered to pay $5,754.70 in restitution to the victims of her offenses.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Skeets was convicted by guilty plea of three felony offenses arising out of a driving while intoxicated incident that resulted in the death of a Navajo man and serious injuries to another Navajo man and a Navajo woman. She entered a guilty plea to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury on Oct. 12, 2012.

In entering her guilty plea, Skeets admitted that on Jan. 21, 2012, she was driving while under the influence of alcohol in the vicinity of Manuelito, N.M., which is located on the Navajo Indian Reservation, when she crashed her vehicle. One of Skeet’s three passengers was fatally injured when he was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The other two passengers sustained serious injuries that required medical attention.

The case was investigated by the Crownpoint Division of the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.