Member of Navajo Nation pleads guilty to federal charge of assault causing serious bodily injury in Indian Country

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Frank Howe Jr., 24, of Rock Springs, New Mexico pleaded guilty on Feb. 28 in federal court in Albuquerque to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

            According to public court documents, a grand jury indicted Howe, Jr. on Dec. 4, 2018. According to his plea agreement, Howe, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to physically assaulting his girlfriend in Indian Country on May 7, 2018. He was driving his vehicle when he got into an argument with the victim.  Howe pulled his vehicle over and assaulted the victim causing serious bodily injury.

            Howe is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.  He faces up to 10 years in prison. 

            The Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety-Criminal Investigations services investigated this case with the assistance from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.