Warm Springs man sentenced to nearly 7 years in 2020 assault of girlfriend after serving state prison term in earlier case

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Warm Springs man with seven prior domestic violence convictions was sentenced to nearly seven years in federal prison Thursday for assaulting his then-girlfriend on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in December 2020.

Alfred Dee Kaulaity, 47, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kaulaity’s federal sentence will run consecutive to a 78-month state prison sentence previously imposed following a domestic violence conviction in Jefferson County.

“The victim in this case courageously turned in her abuser to stop his dangerous pattern of violence,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Our Special Victims Unit is intently focused on holding domestic abusers accountable and stopping this violence in our communities.”

“Everyone has the human right to live in safety, free from violence and abuse. The FBI has a duty to recognize and defend this right,” said Aubree M. Schwartz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office.

“Domestic violence is rarely an isolated incident; the cycle of abuse frequently spans years, oftentimes with several victims as in the case with Alfred Kaulaity. The FBI fully investigates domestic violence with intense commitment to the safety and confidentiality of victims and encourages reporting of these heinous crimes to bring offenders to justice and protect others from harm.”

According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2020, Kaulaity was dining with his girlfriend at the Indian Head Casino on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Kaulaity became angry with his girlfriend for speaking to a male friend and, while driving away from the casino, struck her with the back of his hand, injuring her and leaving a scar on the bridge of her nose. Kaulaity then threatened to kill his girlfriend while driving her from Oregon to northern California.

After several days, Kaulaity’s girlfriend purchased flights to different destinations for Kaulaity and herself. When deboarding her flight to Portland, airline employees observed the women’s injuries and reported them Port of Portland police. The woman told officers she had been assaulted by her boyfriend but did not identify him out of fear.

Six months later, in June 2021, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies responded to a reported assault of the same woman. The woman identified Kaulaity as her assailant and reported his prior December 2020 assault.

On May 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Kaulaity with kidnapping, domestic assault by a habitual offender, assault resulting in substantial bodily injury, and interstate domestic assault. On Dec. 1, 2023, he pleaded guilty to domestic assault by a habitual offender.

In June 2022, Kaulaity was convicted at trial of coercion and assault constituting domestic violence in Jefferson County Circuit Court for an assault involving the same victim as in his federal case and, following trial, was sentenced to a total of 78 months in Oregon state prison.

Kaulaity’s federal sentence imposed Thursday will run consecutive to his state prison sentence. Prior to his two Oregon domestic violence convictions, Kaulaity had six prior domestic violence convictions in Oklahoma spanning 17 years and involving three different victims.

Kaulaity was ordered Thursday to pay $1,432 in restitution to his victim and $3,494 to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Pamela Paaso, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Domestic violence is a serious crime that can include both physical and emotional abuse, and it is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members, friends, and communities.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have also created support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.

The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.