San Carlos Man Sentenced to 13 Years

PHOENIX Leland Ivan Antonio, 48, of San Carlos, Arizona, a member of the San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary H. Murguia to 13 years in federal prison. Antonio pleaded guilty on February 11, 2008 to Second Degree Murder for the 2006 murder of Derrick Smith. Antonio was living at his sister's home on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation with others including his niece and her boyfriend, 24-year-old Derrick Smith, when during the early evening hours of October 3, 2006, Smith and his girlfriend engaged in a heated argument. Both were intoxicated at the time. Antonio, who had also been consuming alcoholic beverages, heard the argument and because of earlier threats made to him by Derrick Smith, retrieved a rifle and confronted Smith. Antonio pointed the rifle at Smith's chest area. The rifle then discharged and the bullet perforated Smith's lung, causing his death. Antonio then struck Smith multiple times in the head with the butt of the rifle before fleeing the area. Antonio was later arrested by San Carlos Police Officers. The investigation in this case was conducted by the San Carlos Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Thomas C. Simon, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.