PHOENIX (LAWFUEL) – Michael Luz, 28, of Maricopa, Ariz. on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation, was sentenced to federal prison on Monday, December 8, 2008, by U.S. District Judge James Teilborg on two domestic violence cases, to 57 months and 120 months to run concurrently.
Luz was charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury for the beating of his then girlfriend in April 2007. During the assault, Luz forced the victim into her vehicle and drove her away from a party. While in the vehicle, Luz hit her in the face several times, then took her to her his home where he continued to beat her and then made her clean up her own blood. He kicked her several times causing severe bruising to her torso. Because she was in a great deal of pain, she took a large amount of over-the-counter pain medication which ultimately caused acute hepatitis and liver and renal failure.
After his arrest for the beating , Luz was released pending trial. He entered a guilty plea on April 21, 2008 to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. Only a few days after his guilty plea, on June 1, 2008, police responded to Luz’s home again, based upon calls about a screaming woman and child. When police arrived, they heard a woman and child screaming. Police entered the home and found Luz’s new girlfriend bloody and naked in the shower. The woman’s toddler was also bloody and naked, screaming and clutching her mother. Luz, also naked, yelled at police for entering his home.
Upon interviewing second victim, police learned that Luz had punched her in the face several times. The victim tried to escape by getting into her vehicle with her child. Luz pulled her out of the vehicle, threw her on the ground and continued to beat her. The toddler was present during the beating and screamed hysterically. Luz took the victim into the home and ordered her and her child to take a shower. At that time, police arrived and arrested Luz for the tribal assault.
Based upon the new offense, the defendant’s release was revoked regarding the assault of the first victim. Shortly after the beating incident, the second victim indicated that she did not want her case prosecuted federally. She advised that she loved Luz and did not want him to be punished for his conduct. Regardless of her desire not to prosecute, Luz was charged for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. Judge Teilborg sentenced Luz to 57 months on the first case and 120 months on the second case with the sentences to run concurrently.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Ak-Chin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Sharon Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-07-1410-PHX-JAT
CR-08-1150-PHX-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2008-328(Luz)
