New Mexico man sentenced to supervision after meeting threats turn into ‘confrontation’

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A New Mexico man was sentenced for assaulting a federal officer. Authorities claimed the incident stemmed from a community meeting.

Court documents alleged Kenneth Begay, 60, of Newcomb, attended a fiscal planning meeting on June 4, 2023, and was becoming frustrated about homesite leases and grazing rights. Begay was accused of making threats against officials, and police were called. Begay left.

Navajo Nation Police Department officers went to his home to investigate the threats, and he told them to stay off his property. The officers stayed outside his fence line, and Begay reportedly admitted to making threats.

Officers tried to arrest him at this time, but he resisted, and there was a confrontation. Afterward, an officer was placed on medical leave for a month as they were suffering from a shoulder separation and multiple abrasions. Another officer had a shoulder sprain and was on leave for a few days.

Begay was sentenced to three years of supervised probation for assaulting the Navajo Nation Police Department officer, who is considered a federal officer.

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