Gallup Man Indicted in Reckless Driving Death, Faces Eight Years

Federal prosecutors announced on November 20 that Justin Othermedicine, a 22 year old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Gallup, has been indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter for an incident that killed an individual on August 11, 2024. According to court documents, Othermedicine allegedly operated a motor vehicle with reckless disregard for life. The indictment was filed in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico and was made public by the office on November 20.

If convicted, Othermedicine faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The defendant will remain on conditions of release pending trial, and no trial date has been scheduled. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Pahl is assigned to prosecute the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office reiterated the legal presumption that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated jointly by the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the New Mexico State Police. That multiagency cooperation draws attention to how investigations that begin on tribal lands move through local, state, and federal channels in McKinley County. For residents, the coordination demonstrates both the complexity and the capacity of the investigative system to handle incidents that cross jurisdictions.

Local officials and community members are likely to view the indictment through dual concerns of public safety and accountability. The alleged facts of the case center on behavior behind the wheel rather than on motives or other criminal circumstances, which places road safety policy and enforcement practices at the forefront of public discussion. McKinley County has a history of roadway safety challenges, particularly where state and tribal roads intersect, and this indictment is likely to renew conversations about traffic law enforcement, driver education, and infrastructure improvements to protect pedestrians and motorists.

Because the victim is identified in court records as John Doe, the community faces the additional challenge of grief and uncertainty for family members and neighbors seeking answers. The upcoming court proceedings will be the primary forum for establishing facts, and residents interested in the case can follow filings in federal court for developments.

This indictment marks a significant step in the legal process but is not a determination of guilt. As the case moves forward, scrutiny of investigative methods, prosecutorial choices, and interagency cooperation will shape both the outcome for the defendant and public confidence in how McKinley County handles serious roadway deaths.