TUCSON, Ariz. – Ernesto Juan Gomez, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation, was sentenced here today to 70 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank R. Zapata. Gomez had pleaded guilty on May 21, 2007 to assault with a dangerous weapon after he admitted that he attacked and stabbed a victim in October 2006.

The stabbing took place on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation on October 21, 2006 when, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the victim left a party hosted at a residence on the Reservation and was followed by Gomez. When Gomez caught up with the victim, he attacked him and stabbed him two times with a knife. One of the stab wounds lacerated the victim’s liver which required surgery and a protracted hospital stay, resulting in $170,663 in hospital expenses.

Judge Zapata also ordered Gomez to pay $170,663 in restitution as a part of his sentence. Gomez will serve three years of supervised release upon his release from federal prison.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Judson T. Mihok, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.

CASE NUMBER: CR-07-00250 TUC FRZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2007-208(Gomez)