Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans,The Navajo Council Law & Order Committee heard a very EMOTIONAL story from a mom, whose son was attacked and killed by dogs in front of the home of the dog owners. The Navajo Nation Animal Control Program reported that Navajo law limited actions against the dog owner to be a CITATION.I did several news stories for the Navajo Times regarding packs of dog attacking livestock across the rez. This was several years ago after the budget of Animal Control was severely cut which resulted in the loss of of a 16-member team of control officers. Animal Control reported that they only have a few officers to cover the entire rez.
The Law & Order Committee or LOC is now hearing from the Navajo Nation White Collar Crime Program. LOC Chairwoman Eugenia Charles-Newton said the time to prosecute elected officials, employees, & political appointees is running out for the Navajo Nation to prosecute some of the Nation’s White Collar Crime or WCC complaints.
The following is an Oct. 18, 2017, Navajo Council press release regarding the extension of the Statute of Limitations for the Prosecution of White Collar Crimes: PRESS RELEASE – Navajo Nation Council extends the statute of limitations and increases penalties for “white collar crimes” WINDOW ROCK – On Oct. 18, 2017, during the second day of the Fall Council Session, the Navajo Nation Council unanimously passed legislation with a vote of 22-0, which will extend the statute of limitations to allow additional time to prosecute public officials and employees who are accused of committing “white collar crimes” through financial fraud, dishonesty, and gross mismanagement of the Navajo Nation’s funds.
Legislation sponsor Council Delegate Otto Tso (Tó Nanees Dizi) requested the support of his Council colleagues, citing the need to hold pubic officials and employees accountable for their actions when they are accused of misusing public funds. He added that the legislation developed as a result of discussions between the Budget and Finance Committee and the Law and Order Committee last year, which then evolved into a working group that included Council members, the Office of the Attorney General, the Judicial Branch, and the Division of Public Safety.
Speaking in the Navajo language, Delegate Tso said the legislation should have been considered and passed long ago in order to protect the peoples’ money over the years. If the resolution is signed into law, it would increase the statute of limitations to “any time within 10 years after commission of the offense,” for offenses such as solicitation, conspiracy, theft, theft of services, receiving stolen property, fraud, embezzlement, criminal stimulation, obtaining a signature by deception, criminal impersonation, bribery, unlawful influence in official and political matters, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, and others.
The legislation also clarifies the definitions of offenses within Title 17 of the Navajo Nation Code and outlines certain penalties for offenses including imprisonment for a term not to exceed 365 days, or be ordered to pay a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both. Language in the bill states that past offenses have resulted in extensive, long-term damage to the Nation, including lost revenue and expenses for prosecution of these crimes.
The legislation was strongly supported by Council members including Council Delegate Davis Filfred (Mexican Water, Aneth, Teecnospos, Tółikan, Red Mesa) who said it’s time to support the legislation and stop letting officials and employees “get away with a slap on the wrist” for crimes that take away funds from the Nation that impact services for the public.
At the conclusion of nearly three hours of debate on Tuesday, the Navajo Nation Council voted 22-0 to approve Legislation No. 0177-17. The President will have 10 calendar days to consider the resolution once it is delivered to the Office of the President and Vice President. (END OF OCT. 18, 2017, PRESS RELEASE)
The Council is now hearing from Council Delegate Kee Allen Begay regarding the alleged bootlegging of liquor & meth in Many Farms, Ariz. Delegate Begay is talking about a vehicle crash in his area that occurred nearby where he was. Delegate Begay said he called the Navajo Police & there was no response.
IT IS NOW 12:27 pm, 5.24.21
AGENDA OF THE LAW AND ORDER COMMITTEE 24TH NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING – VIA TELECOMMUNICATION
May 24, 2021 10:00 A.M
PRESIDING: Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton, Chairwoman, Honorable Otto Tso, Vice Chairperson
LOCATION: VIA TELECOMMUNICATION CALL-IN NUMBER:(669)900-6833: MEETING ID:562 628 2566 PASSCODE: 86515
[ ] Hon. Eugenia Charles-Newton [ } Hon. Otto Tso
[ ] Hon. Vince James [ ] Hon. Edmund Yazzie [ } Hon. Eugene Tso
- Call Meeting to Order, Roll call and Invocation
- Recognize Guest and Visiting Officials
- Review and Adopt Agenda:
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent: - Review and Adopt the Journal(s): None
- Receiving Reports:
a. Report from Jesse Delmar, Executive Director, Division of Public Safety regarding dog mauling on the Navajo Reservation
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
b. Report from Navajo Nation Animal Control Program on the recent incident on dog bites/vicious dogs
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
P a g e 2 | 3
c. Report from Brandon Bitsuie, Acting Chief Prosecutor on White Collar Crime on their office and plans for addressing WCC cases
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
d. Report from Honorable Charlaine Tso, Council Delegate, Tolikan, Red Mesa, Aneth, Mexican Water, & Teec Nos Pos Chapters in regards to immediate attention on Police Officer’s duty and on a release person (Request for Executive Session)
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
e. Report from Honorable Kee A. Begay, Jr., Council Delegate, Tselani/Cottonwood, Tachee/Blue Gap, Nazlini, Low Mountain & Many Farms Chapters on the matter of Illegal activities within the Community of Many Farms (Request for Executive Session)
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
f. Report from Honorable Elmer Begay, Council Delegate, Dilkon, Indian Wells, Teesto, Whitecone, & Greasewood Springs Chapters regarding construction ready projects for Dilkon Justice Center
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
g. Report/Requesting for a member from the LOC be assigned to Judge Letitia Stover, Judge Malcolm Laughing, and Associate Justice Tina Tsinigine for evaluation assignment
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
h. Discuss and provide date of a non-formal work session on Navajo Nation Public Safety is as follows:
• Tuesday 5/25/21 open at 1-2 pm or 2-3 pm
• Wednesday 5/26/21 open at 1-2 pm or 2-3 pm
• Thursday 5/27/21 open at 2-3 pm
• Tuesday 6/01/21 open at 1-2pm or 2-3pm or 4-5pm
• Thursday 6/03/21 open at 3-4 pm or 4-5 pm
• Friday 6/04-/21 open at 1-2pm or 2-3pm or 4-5pm
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent: - Old Business: None
- New Business: None
- Close of Meeting, Announcements and Adjournment
(M) (S) (V)
Yea: Nay: NV: Absent:
NEXT MEETING:
June 14, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., via teleconference
June 21, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., via teleconference
June 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., via teleconference
THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE: The public is advised that the Navajo Nation Council Agenda and the Agendas of the Standing Committees, subcommittees and task forces are not final and adopted by a majority vote of the Navajo Nation Council or the Standing Committees, subcommittees or task forces at meeting pursuant to 2 N.N.C. §§163 and 183, Navajo Nation Council Rule of Order No. 7, and Standing Committee Rule of Order No.8.
