ALBUQUERQUE – Lelander Mays, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Red Mesa, Utah, pled guilty in federal court in Albuquerque to an involuntary manslaughter charge June 7.

Mays was arrested in Dec. 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with involuntary manslaughter. According to the complaint, Mays killed a man when Mays crashed his vehicle on Dec. 6, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County. At the time of the crash, Mays was driving under the influence of alcohol and the victim, who was a passenger in Mays’ vehicle, was thrown from the vehicle.

Mays was subsequently indicted on Dec. 20, and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

During...

GPD: Four NCI workers in custody

Four Na Nihzhoozhi Center Inc. detox workers face charges of larceny, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence for allegedly stealing nearly $12,000 from a man who was dropped off there by Zuni Police Department officers May 9.

Arrest warrants were issued for James Keyanna, Jed Shebala, Tierra Davis and Charlene Sam May 31, and all four were taken into custody at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center.

According to Gallup Police Department reports, Brock Zuber arrived at NCI after 8 pm on May 9, and blew a 0.00 into the breath test machine. Since he was alcohol-free, Zuber was allowed to leave the premises.

But, according to video...

THOREAU – A couple was jailed May 28 as the result of a domestic disturbance at the Saint Bonaventure Mobile Home Park in Thoreau.

Maria Martinez, 23, and Sharale Singer, 26, both bonded out of the McKinley County Adult Detention Center May 30 on separate charges, records show. Martinez was released from jail on her own recognizance.

According to an incident report by Deputy Merlin Benally of the McKinley County Sheriff’s office, at about 7:44 pm he arrived at the trailer park in Thoreau, and encountered Dorothy Martinez, 54, Maria’s mother who looked shock and scared.

“They’re in there. They’re still fighting,’” Martinez uttered to Benally upon arrival.

When...

Two would-be female con artists remained incarcerated June 1 at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on related fraud and concealing identity charges, according to jail records.

Deputy Josie Bowman of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office recorded in an incident report that Bridget Ramirez and Savannah Sprunk went into the Fire Rock Navajo Casino on May 27 at about 7:17 pm and tried to cash a third party check. When they got to the casino’s cash counter, it was observed that the check ‘s routing number didn’t match the actual check. That fact alerted security officials.

The check was subsequently declined and authorities were notified of what turned into a “Thelma and...