Man to serve 17 years for deadly shooting

An Arizona man was sentenced to 202 months — nearly 17 years — in federal prison for a deadly shooting in 2020.

Federal prosecutors alleged 38-yearold Kelly Joyce, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, shot Jefferylondo Cherel Josiah Lee dead in Pinon on March 2, 2020.

In September 2020, Joyce was charged with second-degree murder; assault with a dangerous weapon; and knowingly using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. He also was given a forfeiture allegation, which allows the U.S. to take any of Joyce’s property that came about from the crime or was used to commit the crime if he was convicted. In Joyce’s case, this included a 9 mm Ruger pistol he was found in court to have used to shoot Lee.

Ahead of the sentencing, Joyce pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder charge and consented to the forfeiture allegation. The other two counts were dismissed.

The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza on Nov. 14. After Joyce’s initial 202 months in prison, he will face five years of supervised release and must participate in a substance abuse treatment program.