YAKIMA, WA – Tyler Jonas Senator, a 24-year-old from Toppenish, Washington, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison following his guilty plea to charges of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangling or suffocating. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian delivered the sentence of 84 months and 1 day of imprisonment, to be succeeded by 5 years of supervised release.
The incident, which took place on April 23, 2023, involved Senator and his partner, both of whom are enrolled members of the Yakama Nation. Court documents reveal that Senator attacked his partner while in her vehicle, strangling her and inflicting bruises and scratches on her neck. The violence continued later at their residence in Toppenish, where Senator resumed his assault by hitting, kicking, biting, and striking the victim in the head with the butt of a rifle, in addition to threatening her by pointing the firearm at her.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref commended the victim for her courage in coming forward and emphasized the commitment of her office to ensuring safety and justice for victims of domestic violence, particularly within indigenous communities that experience disproportionately high rates of such violence. Kelly M. Smith of the FBI Seattle field office echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that the sentencing demonstrates an ongoing commitment to combating violent crime within the state’s reservations.