The Cayuga Nation Court handed down its first-ever jail sentence Tuesday, marking a new chapter in the Nation’s exercise of sovereign judicial authority.
Jason John was sentenced to seven days in jail with credit for time served after being found guilty of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree and resisting arrest.
The charges stemmed from a June 16, 2022 incident in which John damaged a Cayuga Nation Police Department vehicle and resisted arrest. A jury convicted him on both counts following a two-day trial held in October.
Nation Court Judge Annaleigh Porter also ordered John to pay full restitution for the vehicle’s damaged rear windshield.
“Today’s sentencing marks another critical step forward for the Cayuga Nation’s judicial system,” said a Nation spokesperson. “This outcome reaffirms the Nation’s inherent right to self-governance and our ability to protect our community through our own institutions.”
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