Man indicted on five felony charges for abuse of children and partner on Warm Springs Reservation

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A federal grand jury in Portland has indicted a 25-year-old man on five felony assault charges stemming from the alleged abuse of two young children and an intimate partner on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

The indictment charges Cedrick Bruce Davis, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, with two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of assault by strangulation. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford announced the charges following an investigation into events alleged between Oct. 19 and Oct. 22.

“The conduct alleged in this indictment is shocking and deeply disturbing,” Bradford said. “No child should endure this kind of abuse and no victim should live in fear of violence in their own home. Our office remains committed to working alongside Tribal, local and federal law enforcement partners to investigate violent crimes in Indian Country and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”

Officers with the Warm Springs Police Department responded to a residence on the reservation on Oct. 22 after the adult victim called 911 seeking help because she did not feel safe. Responding officers observed substantial physical trauma on both minor children, including facial swelling and bruising. When asked about an injury to her face, one of the children identified “Cedrick” as the person who inflicted it.

According to court documents, the adult victim told investigators that Davis assaulted her and the two children over several days between Oct. 19 and Oct. 22. She reported that Davis bit the children, struck them with his fists and a BB gun, threw them and knocked their heads together. The victim also reported that Davis strangled her, struck her in the ribs with a BB gun and held a knife to her neck while she attempted to protect the children.

An affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint states that Davis waived his Miranda rights during questioning and admitted to the physical abuse. Investigators reported that Davis acknowledged slapping the children, hitting their heads together and strangling each child multiple times, noting that one child lost consciousness during an assault. Davis also admitted to strangling the adult victim and striking her in the abdomen.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Warm Springs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin C. Heinz of the District of Oregon's Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case. If convicted, each count of assault with intent to commit murder carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault by strangulation each carry up to 10 years.