Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Lawrence Presley O’Dell, 25, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced this morning to 37 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involuntary manslaughter conviction.  O’Dell also was ordered to pay $9,455.74 in restitution to cover funeral costs for the victim.

O’Dell was arrested in Oct. 2012, and charged with causing the death of a Navajo man, Ramus James, on June 25, 2012, while driving while intoxicated in Red Rock, N.M., which is located on the Navajo Indian Reservation.  O’Dell has been in federal custody since his arrest.

In Feb. 2013, O’Dell pleaded guilty to a felony information charging him with involuntary manslaughter.  In entering his guilty plea, O’Dell admitted driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed while under the influence of intoxicating beverages on June 25, 2012.  O’Dell admitted crashing the vehicle and killing the passenger in the vehicle.

This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Presiliano A. Torrez.