Five People Indicted and Arrested on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation

Press Release

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Gary M. Restaino, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, announces indictments and arrests for multiple violent felony offenses, all of which occurred on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Defendants arrested are:

1. Termaine Billy Celaya, 19, of Whiteriver; CR-24-8095-PCT-DWL;
2. Donovan Skidmore, 25, of Whiteriver; CR-24-8096-PCT-GMS;
3. Eagle Tail Ron Tointigh, 21, of Whiteriver; CR-24-8146-PCT-DJH;
4. Maurissa Marie Edwards, 34, of Cibecue; CR-24-8101-PCT (MTL); and

5. Donovan Wayne Declay, 29, of Whiteriver; CR-24-8113-PCT-SMB.

   
   Celaya was indicted for Second Degree Murder for an April 24, 2024, homicide with a motor vehicle.

   Skidmore was indicted for Robbery for the February 7, 2024, armed robbery of the 7-Mile Store.

   Tointigh was indicted for Assault by Strangling and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury for an August 11, 2024, domestic assault.

   Edwards was indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon for the February 6, 2024, stabbing of another individual.

   Declay was indicted on two counts of Sexual Abuse, and one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse for the December 24, 2022, sexual assault of a family member.

   An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

These arrests were made on November 20, 2024 as part of a joint law enforcement operation, including the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration to locate and arrest defendants that had been indicted but not yet apprehended.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecutions.

CASE NUMBERS: CR-24-8095-PCT-DWL

CR-24-8096-PCT-GMS

CR-24-8146-PCT-DJH

CR-24-8101-PCT-MTL

CR-24-8113-PCT-SMB

RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-158_Celaya, Skidmore, Tointigh, Edwards, Declay

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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Updated November 22, 2024