Crownpoint Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Arising Out of the Deaths of Three Indiviudals

ALBUQUERQUE – Brendan Harry, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Crownpoint, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning to an indictment charging him with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

The charges to which Harry pleaded guilty arise out of a single motor vehicle crash that occurred on March 31, 2012, near Borrego Pass, N.M., on the Navajo Indian Reservation.  Three individuals who were passengers in the vehicle died as a result of injuries they sustained during the crash.  A fourth passenger suffered serious bodily injuries.  All four victims were members of the Navajo Nation.  During today’s plea hearing, Harry admitted that he was driving while intoxicated and caused the death of three of his passengers and serious injury to a fourth passenger when he crashed the vehicle.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Harry will be sentenced to 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Harry remains in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.