PHOENIX — A Mohave Valley woman has been sentenced to nearly a decade in federal prison for severely assaulting a 3-year-old child, federal authorities announced Thursday.
Starla Shaffer, 36, was given a sentence of 118 months (just under 10 years) in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
The case stems from a series of violent incidents that occurred between January 1 and September 21, 2022. During that time, officials say Shaffer inflicted “permanent and life-threatening injuries” on the young child. The victim’s name has not been released.
Both Shaffer and the child are members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, and the assault took place within tribal jurisdiction.
The case was investigated by the Fort Mojave Police Department in coordination with the FBI’s Lake Havasu office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christiana J. Reid-Moore. Sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa.
Shaffer’s conviction underscores the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to addressing crimes involving children in tribal communities.
