Man sentenced for involuntary manslaughter

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
Staff and wire report

GALLUP — A man accused of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of another man last fall in Gallup has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Emerson Smith, 35, was sentenced Monday after 11th District Judge Grant Foutz heard from his family and from family of the victim, 33-year-old Bronson Smith, whose body was found in an arroyo near Silver Stallion Saloon in October.

An autopsy found that Bronson Smith suffered blunt trauma but died of exposure-related causes rather than from his injuries.

Authorities have said the two men had an argument while drinking, which led to a fight. After the fight Emerson walked away, leaving Bronson on the ground where he was later found dead from exposure.

Bronson Smith was one of several people charged in a case involving allegations of misuse of nearly $400,000 in Medicaid travel funds at Gallup’s Office of Human Services.