Federal jury finds Shiprock man guilty of assault in Indian Country

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Christopher Kee, 28, of Shiprock, New Mexico. The jury convicted Kee of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.

A grand jury indicted Kee on May 25, 2022. According to the indictment and other court records, during an argument on April 19, 2020, Kee threw the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe 1, onto a bed and prevented her from getting up. Kee retrieved a pocketknife and stabbed Jane Doe 1 several times. Kee also punched and kicked Jane Doe 1. When he saw how badly Jane Doe 1 was bleeding from a stab wound to her abdomen, Kee poured sugar in her wound and applied pressure. When Jane Doe 1 cried out in pain, Kee slapped her. Later, Jane Doe 1 fled from the home and flagged down a motorist to take her to Northern Navajo Medical Center for treatment.

The assault occurred on the Navajo Nation, and Jane Doe 1 is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Kee faces up to 10 years in prison. Kee will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph M. Spindle and Kyle Nayback are prosecuting the case.

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