PHOENIX, Ariz. – On May 9, Douglas Lawrence Bedell, Jr., 31, of Dilkon, Arizona, a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 108 months’ imprisonment.  Bedell had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

On Jan. 4, 2015, Bedell killed the victim, Brian Lee, also, a member of the Navajo Nation, by stabbing him in the throat. The incident occurred on the Navajo Reservation.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Cassie Bray Woo and Brandon Brown, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

Audit Aims to identify causes of statewide backlog

SANTA FE – New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller announced May 5 that the Office of the State Auditor is conducting a statewide audit of the inventory of untested sexual assault evidence kits, commonly referred to as “rape kits.”

The OSA will survey all law enforcement agencies statewide regarding their practices for handling rape kits and has selected certain law enforcement agencies around the state for a special audit to perform a detailed review of policies and procedures related to the kits.

The special audit will outline best practices needed to clear the backlog and prevent it from happening again.

“Clearing the backlog...

TUBA CITY, Ariz. – The FBI and the Navajo Nation are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying several people who may have information regarding the armed robbery of a Chevron gas station in Tuba City, Arizona May 2.

The individuals captured in surveillance photos were seen in the vicinity of the Chevron during the robbery. Authorities are calling these individuals persons of interest because they may have information regarding the incident.

If you have any information regarding this robbery or any of the pictured individuals, please contact the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, Flagstaff Resident Agency, at (928) 774-0631 or the Navajo Department of Public Safety at (928)...

By Bernie Dotson

Sun Correspondent

A routine traffic stop on May 3 yielded the arrest of one Gallup man on drug charges and with another given a written citation for drug evidence, officials said at a Friday afternoon news conference.

Wade Rodriguez, 23, and Aaron Gonzales, 26, were pulled over by McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Johnson Lee near Historic Highway 66 and not far from Aztec Avenue on the east side of town. Rodriguez was subsequently charged with trafficking a controlled substance and also charged with the possession, delivery or manufacturing of drug paraphernalia, according to Lee’s report on the matter.

Gonzales was not charged in the incident, but was...