• Updated

A man charged in the disappearance of a Navajo grandmother has pleaded guilty to robbery as part of a second plea agreement. Preston Henry Tolth could face a maximum of five years in federal prison, with credit for three years already served, if a judge signs off. Ella Mae Begay vanished in 2021 from Sweetwater, Arizona. Her case has highlighted the disproportionate violence faced by Native Americans. Tolth admitted to using force to take her truck and leaving her on the side of the road. Begay’s family opposes the agreement, saying prosecutors ignored their wishes. A judge is set to review the agreement in May. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.