Shiprock Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Assault
Darrell Joe Ben Jr. was sentenced on Aug. 24, 2026, to 27 months in prison for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, causing life-threatening injuries.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 24, 2026, 11:05 p.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 25, 2026, 1:09 a.m. ET — checked 37 min ago.
Earlier reports
Aug 24, 2026, 11:05 p.m. ETFirst report
Shiprock Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Assault
A Shiprock man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for an assault that left a victim with life-threatening injuries, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico. The sentence was announced on August 24, 2026.
Court documents state that on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben Jr., 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted his ex-girlfriend while intoxicated. Officers detained Ben at the scene. The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for critical injuries, including a hematoma, an orbital fracture, nasal fractures, multiple broken ribs, and lung damage requiring a ventilator. She was later transferred to an intensive care unit in Albuquerque.
Ben pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury of a dating partner. In addition to the prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office. The case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky prosecuted the case.
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Revision history
- Version 125 Aug 2026, 03:09current
First published.
- Version 125 Aug 2026, 03:05current
First published.
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