Tucson, Arizona - Monday, Donnie Ray Jose, 46, of Chui Chu, Arizona, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 108 months in prison. Jose was convicted after a jury trial of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that Jose, during an act of domestic violence, stabbed the victim sixteen times in her shoulder area while she and her minor son were asleep in bed. The victim is also a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and the assault occurred on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. The Court enhanced Jose’s sentence based on a finding that the victim was vulnerable, as she had been sleeping just prior to the stabbing and that there were minor children present during the assault.
Upon release from prison, Jose will be on supervised release for three years. The terms of his supervision include no contact with the victim, the victim’s family, or any of the witnesses who testified at trial.
The investigation in this case was conducted by both the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Serra M. Tsethlikai and Charisse Arce, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.