A Chinle man, Broderrick Ramon Coggeshell, convicted of killing one person and injuring another while driving drunk, was sentenced to nine years behind bars. The 38-year-old defendant had previously pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, crimes committed in December 2022 when, driving under the influence, his truck swerved over the center traffic line colliding with the vehicle of three brothers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, the tragic incident took the life of one brother and severely wounded another, leaving a family and community to wrestle with the aftermath of his reckless actions. In a press release on Monday, the United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi announced the nine-year sentence followed by three years of supervised release, handing justice to the Navajo Nation members involved in the incident. The Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations Division led the case investigation with practitioner, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiyoko Patterson of the District of Arizona, Phoenix, spearheading the prosecution, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona. Driving drunk has once again shown its catastrophic impact, with Coggeshell’s actions leaving an indelible scar on all affected.

In a poignant reflection of the ongoing plague of driving while intoxicated, this case brings to light another instance where the preventable error in judgment resulted in irreversible tragedy. This sentencing serves as a stark reminder and potentially as a deterrent to others who might contemplate getting behind the wheel after drinking, with the U.S. Attorney's Office making it clear that such crimes are met with stern consequences. The prosecution handled by Patterson illustrates the government's stance on holding individuals accountable for the hazardous choices made while under the influence. They announced the sentence with the hopes of it resonating throughout the community and beyond, as an echo of unwavering justice.

To learn more about the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona or to follow updates on similar cases, they can be reached at their website or on social media on Twitter at @USAO_AZ. For any direct inquiries, Public Affairs contact Zach J. Stoebe is available at telephone number (602) 514-7413 or via email at [email protected].