ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man allegedly sexually assaulted an underage girl for four years.

Phillip Lahi Sr., 70, an enrolled member of the Zun Pueblo, allegedly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual conduct with the victim since she was five or six-years-old. According to the criminal complaint, Lahi’s alleged conduct included exposing himself to the child, who is an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, and performing sexual acts in front of her.

In October of 2021, when the victim  was nine-years-old, Lahi allegedly forcibly engaged in sex with her. Lahi allegedly committed the offenses on the Pueblo of Zuni.

Lahi’s initial appearance in federal court was on April 29. He...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brandon Yazzie, 28, of Standing Rock, N.M., and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court on April 28 on a four-count indictment charging him with three counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact.

Yazzie will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

A federal grand jury indicted Yazzie on April 12.

According to the indictment and other court records, on at least two occasions between Dec. 1, 2020, and Jan. 31, 2021, Yazzie allegedly sexually abused the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, who was less than 12 years old.

On one occasion, Yazzie allegedly...

Most people know A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ story about ghosts of the past, present and future warning a miser to change his selfish ways. Artist Dennis Dewa wants people to know the world is at just such a crossroads with climate, and the little choices we make every day will ultimately decide how our future looks.

Dewa is the second in a summer series of guest curators at ART123 Gallery, with an installation May 14 to June 4. The gallery asked local artists to submit briefs for the grant-funded program, with each one focused on a different social justice issue.

Dewa’s exhibit, “The Transition: Fossil Fuels to Renewables,” aims to show how our collective...

Allies show up in solidarity

It was a time of healing and empowerment for survivors of sexual assault at the “Take Back the Night” event held April 21 at the McKinley County Courthouse Plaza.

This was the first public outreach event coordinated by the Sexual Assault Services of Gallup, in hopes of bringing sexual awareness to the community. It began at 6 pm with a march from the Sexual Assault Services offices located at 111 S. First St.  to the downtown courthouse.

Victim Advocate Prevention Educator Jill Draven  said this would be a time for the community to come together,  pulling strength, sharing stories, and empowering the people as well as the survivors who came to...