Colorado Man Sentenced to Five Years Following Officer Assault

A Colorado man has been sentenced to five years in prison following an assault on an officer that occurred at a tribal gaming outfit in the state. 

The man sentenced is Daniel Lehi, 44, of Towaoc. U.S. District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher handed down his sentence. He’ll also be on supervised release for three years. 

More Details of the Case

Lehi pled guilty to a single count of assaulting a federal officer. The officer works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

The assault happened at Ute Mountain Casino Hotel on April 5, 2024. At the time, Lehi appeared intoxicated, and according to prosecutors, he “lunged at the officer and struck him in the face.”

“Lehi continued to fight until officers were able to subdue him,” prosecutors added. Security guards also assisted in apprehending Lehi.

Lehi had prior assaults on law enforcement, which were part of his sentencing. Gallagher used to be in private practice, and among his clients were the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. 

The FBI Speaks Out 

“This attack on a federal officer simply doing his job is unacceptable. We fully support the officer who is a victim in this case and are steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice in cases involving assaults on law enforcement officers,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said on Friday.

“Such acts will not go unanswered, and we will work tirelessly to ensure accountability,” Michalek added.

Colorado’s Acting U.S. Attorney Speaks Out

“Assault on a law enforcement officer is a serious offense, and this defendant received a serious sentence for his actions,” Matt Kirsch, Colorado Acting U.S. Attorney, added in the statement regarding the sentence.

“I want to acknowledge the BIA officer for deftly handling a challenging situation,” Kirsch added.

The BIA and FBI investigated this case. 

Ute Mountain Casino Hotel houses a sportsbook, table games, and over 700 slot machines.