Law

Navajo medicine man convicted of rape

After a second trial, a medicine man from the Navajo Nation has been convicted of rap.

It took the New Mexico state jury less than two hours to find Herbert Yazzie Sr., 55, guilty of raping 27-year-old woman in 2000. The woman had sought ceremonial assistance during her third pregnancy.

Yazzie, who denied the rape, was first found guilty in 2003 and sentenced to 18 years in prison. But a state appeals court overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial.

Yazzie now faces up to 9 years in prison.

Get the Story:
Guilty again in rape case (The Gallup Independent 6/19)