Las Vegas, Nevada - An enrolled member of the Ely Shoshone Tribe was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with the murder of a three-year-old girl.

“Violent crime against women and children on tribal land is a significant priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “I am proud to be part of an organization that does its very best to protect vulnerable victims.”

“One of the reasons that the Las Vegas Division augmented our resources in Northern Nevada was to amplify and strengthen our existing partnerships with our local and tribal partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “This complex investigation underscored the success of these efforts.”

Colon Jackson, 28, was arrested last week Friday in White Pine County, Nevevada. His detention hearing is scheduled to be continued to August 29, before United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin Carry. Jackson is charged with one count of murder in the first degree. A trial date has been set for October 22, 2019. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life in prison.

According to the indictment and facts presented at the detention hearing, on January 9, 2019, the 3-year-old girl went to day care and was later picked-up by her mother and taken home so Jackson could care for her while her mother was at work. After the victim’s mother returned to work, Jackson called her to tell her that the girl was unconscious. The mother came home and took the child to the emergency room in Ely. The girl was then flown from Ely to Salt Lake City and died shortly thereafter. As alleged, Jackson abused the girl resulting in a significant head injury causing her death.

The charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady and Sue Fahami are prosecuting the case.