Kayenta Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Second Degree Murder Related to Drunk Driving

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
6 February 2019

PHOENIX – On Feb. 4, 2019, Clayton Begay, 43, of Kayenta, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Tuchi 14 years’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder on August 2018.

In Nov. 8, 2015, Begay who had a history of DUI convictions drove his vehicle with a BAC level between .384 and .401. As a result, Begay caused his vehicle to roll over and crash, killing two passengers and seriously injuring a third passenger. Begay is a member of the Navajo Nation.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.

CASE NUMBER: CR-18-8208-PCT-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-006_ Begay