Nicholas “Sul” Concha. Family photo

A non-Indian man was sentenced to one year in federal prison for the death of a young man from Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico.

Jorden Medina, 54, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He admitted he shot and killed 28-year-old Nicholas “Sul” Concha, who was a well known powwow singer from the tribe, in November 2013.

But Concha's family members are upset with the plea deal and sentence. Medina was originally charged with second-degree murder, a more serious offense.

"We feel that this sentence sends a message that it is justifiable to murder a Native American and get away with it,” Alice Martinez, one of Concha's aunts, told The Taos News.

Court filings appear to place some of the blame for the incident on Concha. Medina's attorney and federal prosecutors said he instigated some sort of "attack" prior to the shooting.

In addition to serving a year in prison, Medina will serve two years of supervised release.

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