Court dates set for delegates accused in slush fund case By Bill Donovan Special to the Times WINDOW ROCK – While the special prosecutors are still hoping to reach settlements with the few remaining former officials accused of misusing discretionary funds, the Window Rock District Court has set court dates. The first to be held, according to court records released last week by judicial branch spokeswoman Karen Francis, will be a bench trial for former Council Delegate Orlanda Smith-Hodge, who is accused of conspiracy to commit bribery, abuse of office and unauthorized compensation. Mark Donatelli, the lead prosecutor in these cases, said if any of the cases go to trial, the prosecution will be calling more than 30 witnesses just to show how the conspiracy worked and the trial will take at least two months. Smith-Hodge is the only one not to ask for a jury trial and if it is held, it will be presided over by Window Rock District Court Judge Carol Perry. Smith-Hodge is one of the 77 former and current members of the Navajo Nation Council who have been accused of violating tribal law by conspiring with other delegates to give money from the discretionary fund to their family members. Since the law prohibited direct grants, the delegates who were charged conspired with other delegates to give their family members grants in exchange for them doing the same for their family members. Smith-Hodge represented Cornfields, Greasewood Springs, Wide Ruins and Klagetoh on the Council. In May 2007, she allegedly received a payment of $850 to A.B. Smith-Hodge, who was only eight years old at the time. She later transferred the money into her own account, prosecutors say. They allege she did this again in September 2007 for $500, October 2007 for $550, and in August 2008 for $209. She is also accused of exchanging checks with Council Delegate Roy Dempsey for $500 in July 2009 with the money allegedly going to Dempseys wife, Laverne, and to Smith-Hodges eight-year-old son. Allegedly, in May 2009, she gave a check for $600 to Seth Damon, son of Charles Damon, who represented Church Rock and Breadsprings. In exchange, he gave a $600 check to Smith-Hodges daughter, Gabrielle Hodge, prosecutors say. Another check, this time for $700, went to Seth Damon in February 2009 to help pay for expenses at the Denver University Law School, the complaint states. This time, the exchange check allegedly went to Smith-Hodges husband Jim for educational purposes. Al Acothley, son of Evelyn Acothley, allegedly received $500 from Smith-Hodge in January 2009 with Smith-Hodges husband allegedly getting another $500 for educational expenses. Acothleys other son, Darell, allegedly received $500 in August 2008 to help pay for his rent in exchange for a similar payment to Smith-Hodges daughter, Nicole Hodge. Vivian Hubbard, the wife of Council Delegate Harry Hubbard, who represented Becenti, Lake Valley, Standing Rock and White Rock, was given $500 by Smith-Hodge in January 2009 to help pay her utility bill, the complaint states. In exchange Hubbard allegedly gave a similar amount to Smith-Hodges daughter, Gabrielle Hodge, for education expenses. According to the lawyers, Smith-Hodge gave $1,000 in April 2008 to Carolyn Sangster, the sister of Council Delegate Curran Hannon, to be used for her daughters medical expenses and for a traditional ceremony. In exchange, allegedly, Smith-Hodges husband received another $1,000. Perry has also set jury trial dates for former Council delegates Hoskie Kee and Young Jeff Tom. The two are now scheduled to go on trial on March 23. Like Smith-Hodge, the two are accused of conspiring with other delegates to get money for their family members. Kee represented Littlewater, Baca/Prewitt and Casamero. On Dec. 24, 2009, prosecutors say, he gave Michele Morgan, the wife of former speaker Lawrence T. Morgan, a check for $600 to pay for travel to and from Los Angeles for the Christmas holidays. On the same day, Morgan gave Kees family a check for $600 for youth enrichment, according to the complaint. Its also alleged that Kee gave Morgans son, K.L.M., a check for $600 about the same time to pay for his holiday travel. In exchange, Morgan allegedly authorized another check to Kees family for $600. In January 2009, prosecutors allege Kee authorized a check for $4,363 to Colleen Mannie, sister-in-law of Tommy Tsosie, who represented Lechee, to pay her bills since she had been unemployed for six months. On the same day, the complaint says, Tsosie authorized a check for the same amount to Kees family to pay for a trip to San Antonio, Texas. On April 22, 2008, Kee allegedly authorized a check for $300 to Mary Tom, the sister of Young Jeff Tom, who represented Mariano Lake and Smith Lake, because of financial hardship. On the day before, Tom gave Kees family $300, prosecutors say. In March 2008, checks of $500 had allegedly been exchanged, going to Young Jeff Tom Jr. for hardship and Kees wife, Ruby Hunter, to pay for propane. In December 2007, prosecutors say Kee accepted $2,000 from Delegate David Tom, who represented Beclabito and Gaadiiahi. The money allegedly went to his wife for a vehicle payment. On the same day Kee allegedly gave Toms wife, Carolyn a check for $2,000 to help pay her mortgage. Tom is accused of giving $800 to Natasha Lee, daughter of Council Delegate Woody Lee, who represented Sweetwater, to help pay for her daughters day care. In exchange, the complaint alleges, Woody gave Toms sister and son each $400 to pay for their apartment rentals. He also allegedly gave $500 to Tom Morgan, the father of then-Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan, to help pay his livestock feed. In exchange, prosecutors say, Morgan gave $500 to Toms son to help pay for his utilities. In January 2009, he allegedly gave $500 to Ruth Apachito, the wife of Council Delegate George Apachito. In exchange, Apachito allegedly gave $500 to Toms son. Another $600 allegedly was exchanged between the two in January 2008. Another $500 went to the wife of Tim Goodluck Sr., who represented Lupton and Oak Springs, the prosecutors say. In exchange, they allege, Toms son received another $500. Kee, gave Toms daughter, Mary, $300 in April 2008 in exchange for a $300 check to Kees eight-year-old son for youth enrichment, the complaint states. Originally, the two were scheduled to go on trial with former speaker Morgan but he entered into a settlement last month with the special prosecutors. The special prosecutors have been talking with both Kee and Tom about settlements but so far no agreements have been reached.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:10:02 +0000
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