Navajo Man Sentenced to 33 Months for DUI-Related Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico
November 9, 2011

ALBUQUERQUE—Yesterday in federal court, Felix Washburn, 22, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three term of supervised release for his involuntary manslaughter conviction. Washburn, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is in federal custody and is serving his sentence.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Washburn pleaded guilty to killing Mae Tyler, a 48-year-old Navajo woman, on May 25, 2010, while operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol near Sanostee, N.M., which is located on the Navajo Indian Reservation.

According to court filings, in the early hours of May 25, 2010, Washburn was driving a Ford Explorer SUV with two passengers, including Ms. Tyler who was in the back seat, after he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol. Before Washburn got into the driver’s seat, the other passenger pleaded with him to let her drive because he was intoxicated, but Washburn rebuffed her entreaties. While driving on a straight road, Washburn lost control of the SUV and the vehicle overturned once and came to rest upright. Washburn and Ms. Tyler were ejected from the SUV. While the passenger got out of the SUV to check on Ms. Tyler, Washburn got back into the SUV and drove a short distance before the SUV came to a stop. Washburn then fled on foot.

Court records reflect that the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety (NNDPS) was notified of the vehicular fatality at 2:50 a.m. on May 25, 2010. At, at 5:25 a.m. on that same day, an alcohol analyzer indicated that Washburn’s blood alcohol content was .14, and a routine blood draw at a medical facility determined that Washburn had a blood alcohol content of .165 at 7:12 a.m. that day.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NNDPS, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana B. Long.