Killer going to prison

One of the jurors who sat on Raven Navajo's murder trial wrote a letter to the judge, asking for leniency.

A member of the victim's family called the slaying of Brenda Schmalfeldt "unforgiveable" and asked for the type of sentence that Navajo had once asked for himself -- one even more severe than would be allowed by law under a second-degree murder charge.

The viewpoints at Navajo's sentencing Wednesday capped a trial that was its own study in contrasts.

Navajo is a biological man who identifies as a woman. He dressed in tasteful blouses and silver shoes during his February trial. But he's also a highly decorated 17-year Navy veteran who is the father of two sons, his attorney said.

In the end, District Judge Lee Gates sentenced Navajo to a prison term of 10 years to life, the harsher of two options. Navajo could have received a 10-year to 25-year sentence.

Schmalfeldt's mother, Mildred Knowles, said she was satisfied that Navajo could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Knowles, 72, said she would attend every parole hearing "to make sure he never gets out."

"This was so brutal," Knowles said. "I wonder how he would feel if this were to happen to one of his sons."

Navajo, who was convicted of second-degree murder in February, remained silent at Wednesday's hearing. He was wearing a navy blue jail uniform and shackles and was led from the courtroom by several marshals after the sentence.

Authorities said Navajo killed Schmalfeldt on Jan. 13, 2007, after the pair had been drinking together.

Navajo admitted killing Schmalfeldt because he thought the New York New York cocktail waitress had stolen $500 from him.

Navajo later left Schmalfeldt's body in a trash bin, which was taken to the Apex landfill, about 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Police spent two days searching for Schmalfeldt's body in an area the size of two football fields at the landfill but never recovered it.

Schmalfeldt's brother, Thomas Dean, said the way Navajo disposed of the body is one of the most disturbing things about his sister's death.

"To put somebody's body in a Dumpster, that's just unforgivable," Dean said.

In October, Navajo asked Gates to be allowed to plead guilty to first-degree murder and be given the most severe punishment.

But Gates, believing there wasn't evidence to show Schmalfeldt's murder was premeditated, rejected the move.

Dean reiterated the point that Navajo once asked for the most severe punishment, saying, "Just please give it to him."

Andrea Luem, one of Navajo's attorneys, said Navajo tried to take responsibility for the killing by coming forward to police and telling authorities where he dumped Schmalfeldt's body. She said Navajo is a decorated veteran who was honorably discharged.

Luem also mentioned the letter sent by a juror who served during Navajo's trial.

Prosecutor David Stanton called the letter "patently absurd," and Gates called it a ploy by the defense team.

The juror, Traci Wheaton, wrote March 31 that she wanted manslaughter to be a verdict choice. She later learned that the defense asked for jury instructions asking for manslaughter.

Wheaton wrote: "I myself have left this whole experience with the feeling that justice was not served and that manslaughter would have been a more appropriate conviction given the evidence that was presented."

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.