Rex Damon Begay, Sr., 76, of Ganado, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to 10 years in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor less than 12-years-old. Begay will also have to register as a sex offender.
This case was brought to the attention of law enforcement after Arizona Child Protective Services alerted their counterparts on the Navajo Nation that a teenage Navajo girl had reported being sexually abused, several times, by Begay. Through a collaborative effort across multiple jurisdictions, investigation revealed that Begay had sexually mistreated several other female Navajo young members spanning many decades.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.