On Sept. 19, 2017, Hale Nahsonhoya, 22, of Mesa, was sentenced to over 20 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to second degree murder and aggravated assault.
The case involved Nahsonhoya driving his vehicle with extreme, reckless disregard for human life, causing a multi-vehicle crash. As a result of Nahsonhoya’s actions, one man, who was driving his car to church band practice, was killed instantly. A woman in a third vehicle was seriously injured, hospitalized, and suffered long-term injuries.
This incident happened on a busy intersection on the Salt River Indian Reservation, McKellips and Longmore Roads in Scottsdale, Ariz. At approximately 4:45 p.m., in rush hour traffic, Nahsonhoya was driving his vehicle with his juvenile brother as a passenger. Nahsonhoya had a blood alcohol content of over .215. He was driving in excess of 85 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Just before the crash, Nahsonhoya sped his vehicle to ignore and race through a stop sign. He did not attempt to stop his vehicle even seconds prior to impact.
The wife of the deceased victim came to court and paid tribute to her husband of 30 years, highlighting for Judge Snow her husband’s kind-hearted, selfless, and loving life. She explained to Judge Snow the devastation caused by her husband’s death.