A young man from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison last month after assaulting a former intimate partner on tribal land.
Bentley Watts Jr., 22, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit abusive sexual contact in Indian Country and assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country. On June 15, 2024, according to the plea agreement, Watts Jr. dragged his former partner into his bedroom, punching her and placing her in a chokehold before sexually assaulting her and hitting her with a crowbar.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of Colorado, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Court had previously issued a domestic violence protection order prohibiting Watts Jr. from contacting the victim.
The investigation was handled jointly by the Ute Mountain Ute Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Durango Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“Violence on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation like that perpetrated by this defendant will always bring a quick response from the FBI,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said in a statement. “We will continue to hold those responsible for violent crimes on tribal lands accountable.”
While he awaits transfer to a federal prison, Watts is being held at the La Plata County Detention Facility, where he was booked on Aug. 16, 2024. Following his time in federal prison, Watts will be subject to three years of supervised release.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
