In a sobering conclusion to a tragic series of events, Leonard Thomas Stewart, III, a 24-year-old Fort Defiance man has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child. The sentencing, which took place on June 17, was handed down by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi, who also ordered Stewart to lifetime supervised release after his prison term.
This case, which has roots stretching back to 2017, came to a close after Stewart pleaded guilty on October 31, 2023. The incidents occurred between October 3, 2017, and July 11, 2019, where Stewart, a member of the Navajo Nation Indian Tribe, engaged in abusive sexual contact with the minor victim on multiple instances. In a particularly disturbing revelation, it was disclosed that one of these incidents took place in Fort Defiance, while Stewart and the minor were riding horses together.
The investigation that led to Stewart's conviction was jointly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Police Department. Ensuring justice was served, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. The crime, a severe breach of trust and violation of the most vulnerable, casts a stark light on the need for vigilant protection of children within communities.
Documenting the resolution of this deeply unsettling case, the details have been made available on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona. For those seeking to learn more about the sentencing and the case background, further information can be found on the official press release.
