702-623-6362 
Court records show that on September 7, 2018, an egregious Tomahawk attack occurred at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, leaving a victim with severe, life-long injuries. The attacker, a 48-year-old Colorado resident, was just recently sentenced to serve out 10 years in prison after he decided to plead guilty to all the charges against him. Even once the suspect completes the prison term, he will be ordered to serve out at least three years of supervised release.
Reports show that the original attack occurred in the early morning hours at Stewarts Point. It remains unclear what happened to provoke the suspect, later identified as Christopher Dewey Booker, because he had no previous relationship with the victim.
There also does not appear to have been any altercation or incident that would’ve been provoking for the suspect.
The suspect reportedly used a Tomahawk to continuously strike the victim. Eventually, the attacker left the area and helped rush out to the scene. After getting medical care, it was determined that the victim had at least 22 injuries. These injuries were extremely severe, leaving the victim’s left hand partially detached. The victim’s hand is permanently damaged. He was also hit in the face, which caused protracted loss and impairment of the jaw. He now suffers from partial facial paralysis. On top of these serious injuries, the victim sustained multiple fractures and deep lacerations.
The National Park Service investigated the ordeal and came to the conclusion that the attack was intentional. The suspect was identified after leaving his backpack at the scene of the assault.
Any form of intentional assault is a serious crime, but when the incident also causes severe bodily injury and a deadly weapon is used, you can expect the penalties to match the severity of the crime.
Assault with a deadly weapon is defined under Nevada law as the act of using a deadly weapon to strike a victim or place a victim in fear of immediate bodily harm.
In general, a deadly weapon is anything that could be used to cause a fatal injury. This can include a firearm, axe, hatchet, knife, sharp instrument, or something else that could cause significant harm.
Here in Las Vegas, assault with a deadly weapon is considered a serious category B felony. A conviction will result in up to six years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. If the incident results in bodily injury, like the incident above then a conviction could result in up to 15 years in prison.
It’s important to note that you don’t necessarily have to cause bodily harm to get convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. Simply having a deadly weapon and putting fear into your victims through other actions can result in a conviction.
The best way to navigate a situation where you’ve been charged with a violent crime is to talk with a criminal defense attorney.
Here at LV Criminal Defense, our team is prepared to help you understand your charges, enter into a reasonable plea, and get started on constructing a good defense strategy. Get in touch now to get started on your case.
SEARCH
