Shiprock man sentenced to eight years in federal prison for assault in Indian Country

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Dieter D. Douglas, 35, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on May 11 in federal court to eight years and 4 months in prison for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

           Douglas pleaded guilty to two counts of the offense on July 14, 2020. In his plea agreement, Douglas admitted to assaulting the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, on Oct. 3, 2018, and again on May 14, 2019, at a home in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation. During these incidents Douglas covered the victim’s mouth and strangled her with his hands. As a result, Douglas caused the victim to lose consciousness during both incidents.

           Upon his release from prison, Douglas will be subject to three years of supervised release.

           The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson prosecuted the case.