Clifton Nez Hamalowa, a repeat offender with a history of violent crimes, received a life sentence plus 10 years in prison on May 27 for killing Richard Olds. The shooting, which occurred just 16 days after Hamalowa’s release from prison in 2020, took place on reservation land belonging to the Gila River Indian Community. Hamalowa was found guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. His siblings were also involved in the crime, attempting to conceal the murder by disposing of the victim’s car and hiding the body in a remote area of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian reservation. The case has sparked discussions about the criminal justice system’s response to repeat offenders and the role of family in criminal activities.
Repeat Offender in Arizona Receives Life Plus 10 Years for Fatal Shooting
Clifton Nez Hamalowa, a 47-year-old Arizona resident with a history of violent crimes, was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison on May 27 for fatally shooting Richard Olds. The incident, which occurred just 16 days after his release from prison in 2020, has raised concerns about the criminal justice system’s ability to prevent recidivism among repeat offenders.
The shooting took place on reservation land belonging to the Gila River Indian Community, where Hamalowa was found guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit assault. The victim, Richard Olds, was shot in the head multiple times in front of his young child, highlighting the violent nature of the crime and its potential impact on families.
Hamalowa and his siblings were implicated in the crime, with the release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office noting that the family attempted to conceal the murder by disposing of the victim’s car and dumping his body in a remote area of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian reservation. This act of witness intimidation and concealment further complicates the case and underscores the role of family in perpetuating criminal activities.
The conviction is part of a broader pattern of violent behavior for Hamalowa, who has a long history of crimes dating back to 1991. He was previously convicted of stabbing his mother with a butcher knife and killing a man in 1999. During his earlier imprisonments, he was also involved in the stabbing of a fellow inmate.
His brother, Thomas Leon Hamalowa, pleaded guilty to accessory-after-the-fact to murder and was sentenced to 108 months in prison on October 23, 2023. Hamalowa’s sister, Devonne Beth Hamalowa, also pleaded guilty to accessory-after-the-fact to murder and received an 84-month sentence on April 1, 2024. These sentences reflect the broader legal consequences for those involved in the concealment and intimidation of witnesses, raising questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in addressing gang-related crimes and familial ties to criminal activity.
The case has sparked discussions about the criminal justice system’s response to repeat offenders and the need for more stringent measures to prevent recidivism. Legal experts and community leaders are calling for increased oversight and rehabilitation programs to address the root causes of violent crime, particularly among individuals with documented histories of aggression and violence.