Reaction mixed to delegate's charges

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

GREASEWOOD SPRINGS, Ariz. — Pending domestic violence charges against Council Delegate Omer Begay Jr. have stirred mixed feelings among community members and elected chapter officials of the four chapters Begay represents.

Begay was arrested and detained March 3 in Greasewood Springs for possession of alcohol and charges of battery for allegedly punching his wife in the face several times. The following Monday, Begay pleaded "no contest" to the alcohol charge, and paid a $50 fine.

Roger Shirley, chief prosecutor for the Navajo Nation, said Thursday afternoon that the Prosecutor's Office is still waiting for a report from Dilkon police and for the victim to come forward. He said it is not particularly unusual for a report to take this long. Dilkon police department could not be reached on the status of the report.

But while the report is still pending more than a month and a half since the incident occurred some community members and elected leaders are raising concerns as to why no discipline has being taken against Begay. Other community members have remained strong supporters of Begay.

Support and Forgiveness
Shawnevan Dale, chapter president for Wide Ruins Chapter, said the issue was raised at a chapter meeting on April 5, but the concern, he said, "was mainly on what the press was doing."

"Our community constituents agree that what happened, happened," he said, in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. "We've all done something bad; we all have skeletons in our closet."

Dale said that Begay apologized to the people at Wide Ruins Chapter for what happened.

"In Navajo, he said he learned from it, and said I hope you continue to support me," said Dale.

Dale, who said he is a cousin of Begay, said the community's mentality was to forgive him, since it falls in line with Navajo philosophy.

The community, he said, also agreed that issue was a marital problem, and that Begay and his wife should be left alone to deal with it in their own way.

According to Dilkon police, Begay and his wife, Marlene Toadlena, got into a dispute instigated by his wife teasing him about another woman, where he then allegedly punched her twice on two occasions.

Toadlena then locked herself in their truck upon returning home, and called the police from her cell phone. Police said Begay was found under the influence of alcohol when they arrived, where they confiscated 30 bottles of various beer and malt liquor, a fifth of tequila, and a shot of brandy.

Toadlena was treated at a local hospital for minor cuts and scratches on her bottom lip.

Dale does believe that the incident reflects poorly on Begay and that he should have dealt with it in a different manner.

"Using alcohol to express his feelings should not have happened," he said.

If Begay was on official business when the incident occurred, Dale said, the reaction from the community might have been different.

A different story
While Dale said people still strongly support Begay, one chapter official from Klagetoh and community members from Greasewood Springs share a different story.

At Klagetoh Chapter, one chapter official, who would not allow the use of his name for fear of reprisal, said that Begay initially told the community that the Independent lied about the whole thing and said it wasn't true after the first report was written.

Initially, the official said that constituents believed him, but after it was confirmed two days later that he pled "no contest" to an alcohol possession charge, the official said they were upset and disappointed.

Chapter officials said they received an influx of calls from people, even as far as Phoenix, questioning what action would be taken against him.

"We're having to answer for him at the chapter level," the Klagetoh official said. "They (voters) say, 'Is it just going to go on like that?' "

In response, the Klagetoh chapter had ethics and rules information faxed to them, but have not proceeded with following up on the laws, since a recent death in the community put their efforts to a halt.

Chapter officials did raise concerns with the Speaker's Office and President's Office, who suggested that Begay undergo counseling. The majority of feelings from community members, the official said, is that Begay needs to resign or the Council needs to let him go. But no one is stepping forward.

"I know there's a lot of people that won't say anything," said the Klagetoh official.

Because of the small size of the community, people are concerned about possible retaliation.

According to Greasewood community members, Begay did not apologize as he did with the Wide Ruins chapter voters, but instead told the community that he is a Council Delegate from Monday through Friday, and that Saturday and Sunday are his own days when it was discussed what discipline should be brought against him.

Greasewood chapter officials declined on-record comments Monday afternoon, but several community members shared discontent that no action was taken against Begay. Many asked that they remain anonymous, fearing that Begay's clan relatives may retaliate against them.

One community member stated that there are a number of Ma'iideeshgiizni clan relatives (Begay's same clan) that support him, which is why he did not want his name printed.

"He's denying everything," said one community member Monday afternoon in Greasewood Springs. "But if there's a police report, there's no way you can deny anything."

"Dirty politics, that's all it is," said one another voter. "There's nothing being done about it."

"A lot of people are talking about it," said another resident. "They just won't bring it up in public."

Tony Yazzie, 51, of Greasewood, was the only one of five Greasewood community members who was willing to be identified. He said he was in dismay and shock when he heard about Begay, and read that the Speaker's Office Public Relations Officer, Sararesa Begay, said that there's a difference between the delegates personal and public life.

"I don't agree with that because there is a domestic violence issue," said Yazzie. "As community members, we're subject to the law. When you're an elected official, you're subject to a higher law."

One community member expressed disappointment in the Speaker's Office, President's Office, as well as the Office of Navajo Women for not raising concern about the issue.

"They work against DUI's and domestic violence," he said. "I would be ashamed to do a domestic violence presentation when no one is doing nothing about that individual."

No surprise
It doesn't surprise Dale that Greasewood Springs residents are not supporting Begay.

"They tend to single Mr. Begay out a lot," he said.

Dale said that the officials from Greasewood Springs and Begay butt heads, and that the Greasewood community tends to stick together separate from the three other chapters Begay represents.

On the other hand, it doesn't surprise the Klagetoh chapter official that Wide Ruins is backing Begay since the said he is related to a number of people working at the chapter house.

"As long as officials are related to him, they won't do anything about him," said the Klagetoh chapter official.

Cornfields chapter officials could not be reached for comment.