We wuz robbed!



Gallup Bengals head coach Ryan Cordova and a referee discuss the fine points of rules during a basketball game against the Window Rock Scouts.

Photo by Craig Robinson

 

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Man admits to sex with underage girls

Andrea Egger
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A hearing has been postponed for a Gallup man who admitted to police he had sex with little girls "because they wanted to."

Jerrold Leekity, 26, of Dairy Drive, is accused of eight counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and five charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor, all felonies, according to Magistrate Court documents.

Leekity's preliminary hearing was set for Thursday but was rescheduled by Magistrate John Carey at the request of the attorneys. Eleventh Judicial District Attorney's Office Assistant District Attorney Karen Kingen Etcitty is prosecuting, with Claudia Ray of Gallup serving as Leekity's lawyer.

The girl victims are ages 13, 11, and 9.

Gallup Police Lt. John Allen said Friday that what the girls underwent was "horrible." He added in a case like this, officers can be satisfied that by getting an offender off the streets, they've done their jobs as protectors of the community.

"This is why people become police officers, to catch evil people like this," Allen said.

Gallup Police were called at 2:50 p.m. Nov. 18 to the home on Dairy Drive, where a social worker was waiting to tell them of the sexual abuse of three girls, who didn't want to be sent home, according to the police report.

Five children who live at that address had been taken into custody of social services the night before because they were alone with an intoxicated relative. The relative was arrested and charged with child abuse, and the children were taken to foster homes overnight.

The next day, the younger children went home, but the older three told the social worker they didn't want to go back because a man living in their home "touches" them in the breast and vaginal areas.

Officer Owen Pena called Officer Diane Dosal to the location to talk to the girls, because they said they would be more comfortable talking to a female officer.

Pena transported Leekity, who was not under arrest at that point, to the police station to give a statement to detectives.

Detective Cpl. Matthew Wright wrote in a police report that Leekity gave up his right to silence and to having an attorney present. Leekity admitted to penetrating the girls with his penis and finger, according to Wright's police report.

Leekity said he knew they were young and what he was doing was wrong, "but they wanted it to happen," Wright wrote in the report.

"He said he knew he could go to jail but that would break their hearts," Wright quoted Leekity as saying.

When Wright and White told Leekity he was going to jail, Leekity said, "It's not my fault, it's the girls,'" Wright wrote in the
report.

Leekity told Wright and White he never threatened the girls to keep quiet about the incidents, but he knew they wanted to keep it secret. He said he never touched two other, younger children because "they never did anything to him to suggest to him they wanted sex," Wright quoted Leekity as saying.

The abuse began in January 2001 and continued until Leekity's arrest Nov. 18, according to the report.

During the interview, Leekity also told Wright and White that it all started when the girls began touching his penis and pinching his buttocks, according to a transcript of the tape-recorded interview. Then he said the girls "forced" him to touch their breasts and vaginal area, according to the transcript.

"So they were making a pass at you?" White asked.

"Yeah," Leekity said. "I don't know where they got the idea of doing that, touching me in the butt, touching me in the penis."

"So when they did that, you would think that they wanted you?" White asked.

"Um, no, I just tell them to stop it," Leekity said.

But during the interview, Leekity also said he touched the girls while they were sleeping and they didn't wake up.

Leekity told the detectives that one day after school, one of the girls attacked him.

"She was all bouncing on me, like she wanted me to do it, and she was all bouncing on my lap and stuff and then I told her, 'don't,' put her to the side, and she just kept on coming and then, I just touched her (breast) here again," the transcript quoted Leekity as saying.

One time, one of the girls told him to take off her panties and to take off his underwear and she grabbed his penis and put it in her vagina, and she started moving up and down on him, according to the transcript.

Leekity said he told the girl to get off of him and never to do that again.

"Were you tempted?" White asked.

"A little. Yeah, a little," Leekity said.

Leekity maintained, during the interview, that he penetrated the girls at their requests.

According to state law, if a minor has consensual sex with an adult, the adult is still considered guilty of statutory rape, because the child is considered too young to consent to sex.

But when the children are as young as 9, statutory rape doesn't even apply — and the suspect is charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor, which is a first-degree felony, the most serious of felonies. In Leekity's case, the girls said they were afraid of him because he forced himself on them.

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Bates concerned with NAPI appointments

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — The terminated general manager of the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI), said he never had the chance to work with professional farm board members like the ones the tribe's Economic Development Committee (EDC) is considering.

LoRenzo Bates said he is concerned with a move Wednesday by EDC members to confirm board appointments — three executives, one from Frito-Lay Co., one from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., and the third from D'Arrigo Bros., a large vegetable producer in California — and then repeal the appointments.

EDC members, by a 3-1 vote with two abstentions, nullified the appointments due to not having declared vacancies before advertising the positions, sought for nomination by Navajo President Kelsey Begaye, and because they want to review the contracts. Their appoint-then repeal appointment action leaves delegates Tom LaPahe, Ervin Keeswood Sr. and George Arthur on the NAPI Board of Directors, at least for the present.

Bates said if EDC members are sincere in correcting the situation, they should reconvene Tuesday in emergency mode and reinstate the three appointees.

"The incident with the 'yes-no' vote points out a big problem facing bringing in outside investment," Bates said. "Investors hate uncertainty. Nobody is going to invest money when they are uncertain of what the process is if a dispute occurs or if the rules can be changed in the middle of the game."

He continued: "That is why the Navajo Nation is always asked to get a limited waiver so disputes can be heard in federal courts. This is always objected to by the Navajo Nation, (tribal) Attorney General and Legislative Counsel, our lawyers, so nothing gets done. Other tribes have overcome this with the use of things such as commercial courts and the option of binding arbitration. We need to get the uncertainty and guess work out of business deals, let's update, organize and codify our laws."

Bates was fired as NAPI general manager about a year ago, during a time when a Mid Kansas Agri Co. report showed that the tribe had lost $11.75 million in operating revenue from 1995-99, which coincided with his management tenure. He was fired "for cause" by the NAPI board, then recently had his case settled by tribal court. Bates had three years remaining on a four-year contract.

Bates gave most of his entire career to NAPI and deserved better treatment than the board gave him, many Window Rock and tribal farm sources have said confidentially. Having delegates on the farm board didn't help his cause, Bates said, because they lack real expertise in areas where they make huge decisions that could mean millions of dollars in profit or loss.

"Politically, the Navajo Nation people and other governments do not respect or trust the Navajo Nation elected officials or the bureaucrats who run the government," he said. "The result economically is a 50 percent unemployment rate, notoriously low wages and a stagnant economy, which can only point to fast-food establishments as economic growth. Progress on essential matters such as water rights and securing outside investment into the nation and basically providing opportunity to our people is at a standstill."

Corporate America spends 35 percent of its total expenditures on communication, Bates said. The Navajo Nation's executive and legislative branches should learn from this, since "the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing." Finding out what happens at important tribal committee meetings, unless you happened to attend them, is difficult, Bates said.

"The Navajo Nation is currently not an open and transparent government," he said. "I want to know what my delegate has voted for. In this incident with the 'yes-no' vote ... who was absent and who voted for what?"

Bates said current board members Arthur, Keeswood, LaPahe, and Ervin Chavez should accept that they are no longer qualified to be on the board due to NAPI new Plan of Operation Rules, which among other things leave out elected officials of any kind. The new rules also require all five board members to have a bachelor of science degree, and three of them to have commercial agribusiness experience. Their decision to wait out and delay the process "creates a barrier to advancing our nation," Bates added.

"I was asked to move on and I accepted that," Bates said. "It is now time for these delegates to move on and get professionals to help out NAPI and the Nation."

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Thoreau, Prep to square off

Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

THOREAU — Thoreau and Navajo Prep will once again battle in tonight's championship game of the 22nd Annual Hawk Classic Tournament.

The Thoreau Lady Hawks came from behind to beat the Valley Lady Pirates 63-43. In the evening game, Navajo Prep edged the Crownpoint 49-46 to advance.

In the early games, Navajo Pine beat Grants 53-50 and Many Farms rallied in the fourth quarter to turn away Sandia Prep 65-61.

In today's early session, Sandia Prep will play Grants at 1:30 p.m. while Many Farms will play Navajo Pine at 3 p.m.

In the late session, Valley will play Crownpoint for third place at 6 p.m. while Thoreau and Navajo Prep will play the
championship game at 7:30 p.m.

Thoreau 63, Valley 43

The Thoreau Lady Hawks and the Valley Lady Pirates battled throughout the entire game before the Lady Hawks pulled away late in the third quarter to advance to their own tournament championship.

"I am just really proud of the overall effort together," said Thoreau coach Jori Wippert. "They really cut down their turnovers. I am really pleased with the defense.

"Once we switched our defenses from a man to a zone it really helped us out," Wippert added. "(Valley) wasn't able to get the ball inside to their bigger girls, which forced them to hit from the outside."

"We managed to keep up with them until our starting lineup got tired," said Valley coach Julia Six. "This was the first tough game we've had all season long. I was really impressed with the way we played three quarters.

"I was determined to see how well we could play against Thoreau and I was really pleased with the way we played. The main thing we had to work on was (Thoreau's) press. They ran a 2-2-1 press and we worked on breaking that. Once we broke it, they went zone and we could get inside," Six added.

The Lady Hawks took a 29-28 lead just seconds before halftime to enter the third quarter up by one, but the Lady Pirates didn't let down easily.

Hawk Cindy Morgan started the third quarter with an assist to Crystal Martinez but Lady Pirate Savannah Yazzie came back with a jumper.

Hawk Morgan then sank a layup and Pirate Denise Roan came back with a layup of her own. A trey by Hawk Marticia Holiday then widen the Hawk lead to 36-32.

Hawk Morgan then had another assist to Candace Begay and Pirate Roan handed a pass to Yazzie. A three-point basket by Karen Chavez then started to put a gap in the score to give the Hawks a 41-34 advantage.

Both teams continued to exchange points throughout the rest of the quarter with Thoreau up 47-40 going into fourth quarter.

The Lady Hawks were able to seal the win in the final quarter restraining the Lady Pirates to only three points while they scored 16.

The Lady Hawks started with a 10-point run. Morgan had a putback, Tonya James made an assist to Begay, Chavez hit her fifth trey of the game, Morgan was 1-for-2 at the line and Begay assisted a pass to Morgan.

A three-point basket by Lauren Ashley ended the run for the Hawks and also ended the scoring in the game for Valley.

Thoreau finished with six more points. Morgan made another basket and Begay sank a trey and Begay was 1-for-2 at the line.

Earlier in the game, the Lady Pirates took a 16-12 lead in the first quarter after they trailed 7-4. The Pirates first tied the game at 8-8 and then again at 12-12. While tied the second time, the Pirates took the lead at the end of the first quarter with an assist by Roan to Marisha Forster and Ashley with an offensive rebound.

In the second quarter, the Lady Pirates pulled away shortly with a five-point run. Heather Smith had an assist to Forster who was able to finish the three-point play at the line and Forster hit another pair of free throws for a 21-12 lead.

The Lady Hawks slowly worked their way from behind to tie the game at 25-25. Hawk Philestina Yazzie then made a layup but Pirate Smith then sank a trey. Hawk Morgan then grabbed a rebound and took it down the court for a layup to give the Hawks a 29-28 lead.

"I saw (Valley) play last night and I knew they were a very good, well-rounded team," Wippert said. "I was expecting this close of a game and I thought they did a good job. We are looking forward to playing Navajo Prep. They are a quality ballteam and we always look forward to the talent."

The Lady Hawks were led by Morgan with 19 points, five rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks. Karen Chavez hit five treys for a total of 17 points. Begay added nine points, three rebounds, four steals and an assist.

Lady Pirates Ashley and Forster scored 13 points each. Ashley also had 10 rebounds, a steal and two blocks. Forster added eight rebounds, three steals and four blocks.

The Lady Pirates did play without their leading scorer Racine Shorty who left Thursday game due to a knee injury.

"Racine is our top scorer, if she was here she could have opened up the lane for us," Six commented on Shorty who will be out for two weeks.

Navajo Prep 49, Crownpoint 46

The Crownpoint Lady Eagles came from a 30-18 halftime deficit to nearly take the Navajo Prep Lady Eagles' spot in the championship game.

"I am just happy with the way we are playing right now," said Navajo Prep head coach Robert Adams. "We are up and down right now and it's only our fifth game. It's good to see even with the way we played tonight we can still win. We are playing good enough to win and that is all I can say. I guess I can't wait for us to explode but we'll take the wins one at a time."

Navajo Prep started by outscoring Crownpoint 16-7 in the first quarter and then 14-11 in the second quarter.

Crownpoint then made its move in the third quarter to hold Navajo Prep to four points while the Lady Eagles scored 17.

"I expected Crownpoint to come back," Adams said. "This was a big rivalry game because some of my kids are from the Crownpoint area and it builds it up. I like it right now because the rivalry it built up where Eagles versus Eagles."

Navajo Prep scored the first basket of the fourth quarter on a jump shot by Venessa Francis. Crownpoint then came back with a 16-point run. Krystle Bowman hit a jumper, Orlanda Martin assisted a pass to Nelrita Jake and Stephanie Powell had an assist to Martin.

Crownpoint continued with treys from Nelrita Jake and Martin and Sylvia Johnson made a drive to the basket to tie the game at 32-32.

Crownpoint then took the lead with a jump shot from Bowman. Navajo Prep then tied the game at 34-34 with a drive up the middle of the Crownpoint defense by Marian Goodluck.

Crownpoint then dragged over a 35-34 lead into the fourth quarter when Lisa Arviso was 1-for-2 at the line.

Both teams continued to fight in the fourth quarter with Navajo Prep starting with an assist to Kendra Henry from Morris. Crownpoint answered back with Powell assisting Doreen Kalleco with a pass.

Navajo Prep then scored four points on an offensive rebound by Francis and Shireen Wanoskia taking her steal for a layup.

Navajo Prep slowly took a 42-46 lead before Crownpoint came back with a drive to the basket by Bowman who added a pair of free throws to tie the game at 46-all.

Navajo Prep's Francis sealed the win when she scored three points on a jump shot and going 1-for-2 at the line with just seven seconds left in the game.

"We have been struggling with free throws for four years," Adams said about his team's hitting 10-for-18 (56 percent) at the line. "I am going to call some college coaches on Monday to see what we got to do. We shoot them every day and we don't make them either. I don't understand, it's something we got to work on."

Crownpoint was 12-for-19 (63 percent) at the line.

Navajo Prep was led by Francis who scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds, four steals and an assist. Carol Lee Jefferson added nine points, eight rebounds, four steals and an assist. Garcia also had eight rebounds, a steal and a block and Morris had three steals.

Sylvia Johnson led Crownpoint with 13 points, four rebounds, a steal, an assist and two blocks. Bowman scored nine points and had two steals and two blocks. Powell handed out five assists and Nelrita Jake and Jennifer Jake both had six rebounds.

Navajo Pine 53, Grants 50

The Grants Lady Pirates couldn't hold on to a 26-18 lead at halftime while the Navajo Pine Lady Warriors came back to win, 53-50.

The Lady Pirates took a 15-4 lead over the Lady Warriors in the first quarter but Navajo Pine came back in the second half. The Warriors outscored the Pirates 18-14 in the third quarter and then again in the fourth quarter 17-10.

Navajo Pine was led by Dezaretta Chee with 17 points. Chee also hit three treys. Samantha Tsosie scored eight points and Lahtona Louis and Priscilla Watchman both added seven points each.

The Lady Pirates were led Antonia Dominguez with 14 points. Vail Rochlitz added 10 points. Berna Frigerio and Brooke Metzger scored eight points each.

Many Farms 65, Sandia Prep 61

The Many Farms Lady Lobos and the Sandia Prep Lady Sun Devils battled to the end before the Sun Devils walked away with the win in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Lobos took a 17-14 lead in the first quarter before the Lady Sun Devils took a 33-25 lead at the halftime.

The Lady Lobos outscored the Sun Devils 13-10 in the third quarter but still trailed 43-38. Many Farms came back in the fourth quarter with 27 points to the 18 points by the Sandia Prep.

The Lady Lobos were led by Diedra Curley with 31 points. Curley also hit three treys. Harriet Gorman added seven points. Latanya Largo and Katrina Begay both scored six points each.

Sandia Prep was led by Vanessa Coleman with 20 points. Jennifer Tennent scored 13, Maranda Kirkseay added 11 points and Magie Murray finished with 10 points.

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Meeting on business lease rules

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — Since the 1950s, the Navajo Nation and Bureau of Indian Affairs have taken turns accusing each other of bungling economic development on the reservation by the cumbersome business site lease process.

Starting Monday in Crownpoint and continuing for a week at each of the tribe's five agencies and Kayenta (Ariz.) Township, business leasing rules will start to change. Selena Manychildren, a facilitator newly hired by the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development, and Sam Martinez, a Navajo attorney from Gallup, will conduct public hearings each day to take testimony from business owners on the perceived effect of the changes.

Martinez drafted a proposed resolution on the new business site leasing regulations, which will be distributed in tabloid form to those attending the hearings.

"It's not in stone right now. That's the purpose of the public hearings," he said. In fact, he added that business owners' suggestions will be critical in reaching a revised final resolution that will be presented to the Navajo Nation Council...

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Deaths

Robert C. Tecklenburg

GALLUP — Services for Robert Tecklenburg, 88, will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 10 at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Rev. Gary Bickner will officiate.

Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 10 at Rollie Mortuary.

Tecklenburg died Dec. 6 at Gallup. He was born May 16, 1913 in Sawyer.

Tecklenburg attended Gallup Junior High School and Gallup High School. He worked with White Elephant Storage, AT & SF Railroad as a switchman, worked in Taos, Kelsey Trading Co., Gallup McKinley County Schools as a head of maintenance. His hobbies included wood crafts, carpentry work and craft work for the Sisters of the Poor.

Survivors included his wife, Martha Teckenburg of Gallup.

Tecklenburg was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Florence Tecklenburg; brothers, Bill Tecklenburg, Dave Tecklenburg, George Tecklenburg, Herman Tecklenburg and Walter Tecklenburg and sister, Anna May Varnar.

Pallbearers will be Ernest Engelken, Ralph Engelken, Robert Engelken, Walter Engelken, Loyd James, Dale Kletke, Dan Kletke, Edward Kletke, Jason Kletke, Marty Menapace, Charles Randall, John Randall, Merlin Randall and Herman Frank Tecklenburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Gallup or your favorite charity.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ray Kenneth Yazzie

TWIN LAKES — Services for Ray Yazzie, 54, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 12 at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Pastor Dennis Gardner will officiate. Burial will follow on private family land, Twin Lakes.

Yazzie died Dec. 5 in Albuquerque. He was born Feb. 10, 1947 into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Meadow People Clan.

Survivors include his sons, Julian Yazzie and Reed Yazzie both of Ramah, daughters, Geraldine Kescoli, Shelley Yazzie and Valene Yazzie all of Round Rock, Marcella Yazzie, Marcinda Yazzie and Priscilla Yazzie all of Ramah; brothers, Harry Yazzie of Twin Lake; sisters, Betty Notah of Gamerco and Anita Sherman of Twin Lakes and eight grandchildren.

Yazzie was preceded in death by her wife, Irene Gruber; parents, Hothiso and Bertha Yazzie and brothers, Howard Yazzie and Jimmy Yazzie.

Pallbearers will be Kasey McCorkey, Gerald Notah, Melcoy Pablo, Jerry Sherman, Benjamin Smith and Sherwin Woody.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nancy Gonzales

DENVER — Services for Nancy Gonzales, 38, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 10 at Lutheran Church, Rock Point. Burial will follow at Rock Point Cemetery.

Gonazles died Dec. 2 in Denver. She was born Oct. 9, 1963 in New Mexico into the Water Edge for the Start of the Red Streak People Clan.

Gonazles atttended Red Mesa High School and graduated from vocational school, Clearfield, Utah. She was a nursing assistant in Denver. Her hobbie include cooking, listening to country music and dancing.

Survivors included her husband, Rueben Gonzales Sr.; son, Rueben Gonzales Jr.; daughter, Tisa Gonzales; mother, Alice Descheenie of Rock Point, Ariz.; brothers, Raymond Descheenie of California and Francis Descheenie of Rock Point; sisters, Evelyn Lee of Fort Defiance, Ariz., Irene Descheenie and Orlleen Bryant both of Rock Point, Susie Descheenie, Gayle Descheenie and Rita Descheenie all of Denver.

Gonzales was preceded in death by her father, Billy Y. Descheenie; and brothers, Jonah and David Descheenie.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Rita White Davis

TSAILE, Ariz. — Services for Rita Davis, 45, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 10 at Tsaile Community Church. Burial will follow at Lukachukai, Ariz.

Davis was born Dec. 15, 1956 in Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Red Bottom for the Bitter Water Clan.

Davis was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, David Davis of Tsaile; sons, Darren Davis, Gilbert Davis, Dolyn Davis and Demck Davis all of Tsaile; daughter, Rhonda Davis of Tsaile; mother, Clara S. White of Tsaile; brothers, Roger, Rodney and Ronald all of Tsaile;
sisters, Louise Davis and Risa John both of Tsaile and seven grandchildren.

Davis was preceded in death by her father, Wilson White.

Pallbearers will be Darren, Gilbert Dolyn, Demck Jeremiah, Davis's and Darryl Bahe.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

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