Tohono O’odham Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years Prison for Assault With a Firearm

     TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 17, 2016, Robert Kenneth Cooley, 46, of South Hickiwan, Ariz., and a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Frank R. Zapata to serve 99 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Cooley had previously pleaded guilty to these offenses.

     On June 9, 2014, in South Hickiwan, Ariz., on the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, Cooley, a convicted felon, discharged a handgun outside of his residence.  The victim, a neighbor of Cooley, and also a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, heard the gunshots and went outside to determine what was happening.  As the victim walked toward Cooley, Cooley pointed his handgun at the victim’s face and threatened him.  The victim feared for his life and immediately returned to his residence where his wife called 911. Cooley was located and arrested three days later.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-14-2148-TUC-FRZ  

RELEASE NUMBER:   2016-052_Cooley

# # #

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

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.