San Carlos Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Murdering Phoenix Man

PHOENIX—Melvin Pascal Nash, 23, of San Carlos, Ariz., a member of the San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe, was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg. Nash pleaded guilty on August 4, 2009, to Second Degree Murder.

On August 28, 2008, near San Carlos Lake on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Nash, with the aid and assistance of co-defendant Mason James Henry, shot and killed a Phoenix man. The victim had been temporarily in the area working as a security guard for a construction project and had no prior association with either of the defendants.

On August 5, 2009, co-defendant Henry pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and is set for sentencing on December 22, 2009.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Carlos Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Thomas C. Simon, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-01377-PHX-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-348(Nash)

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