Four men were arrested on assault charges for allegedly getting into a fight on Tuesday at the Siesta Motel in Mitchell.
Gibson Yazzie, 35, of Whippoorwill, Arizona, was charged with aggravated assault and Melvin Cepi, 22, of Keams Canyon, Arizona, JR Cepi, 28, of Keams Canyon, Arizona, and Trevor Tsosie, 28, of Mitchell, were charged with simple assault.
At approximately 6:13 p.m. Tuesday, the four men were sharing a room at the Siesta Motel. Yazzie allegedly left the motel for approximately one hour before returning to the room. When Yazzie returned he was allegedly intoxicated and began to argue with the three men in the room, according to court documents.
Yazzie allegedly pulled out a pocketknife and placed brass knuckles on his hands against the three other men. According to court documents, Yazzie punched one roommate three times with the brass knuckles. Yazzie allegedly blocked the door to the motel room, preventing the three men from leaving. As Yazzie was swinging at the one of the men, Tsosie allegedly punched Yazzie.
Tsosie, Melvin Cepi and JR Cepi allegedly punched Yazzie repeatedly while he was on the ground. Melvin Cepi, JR Cepi and Tsosie left the motel before law enforcement arrived. The three men were located at another motel in Mitchell by law enforcement, court documents state.
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A status hearing for Yazzie is scheduled for Oct. 26. An initial appearance hearing for Melvin Cepi, JR Cepi and Tsosie is scheduled for Nov. 30.
Aggravated assault is a Class 3 felony and is punishable upon conviction by up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Simple assault is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
