Toppenish Man Sentenced for Domestic Violence Assaults

Yakima, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 6, 2025, United States District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Alex Jeffery James-Tulee, twenty-three, to thirty-seven months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate or Dating Partner and one count of Assault of an Intimate or Dating Partner by Strangling or Suffocating, all within the exterior bounds of the Yakama Nation. According to court documents, James-Tulee assaulted two different women whom he was involved in a domestic relationship and both enrolled members of the Yakama Nation. One assault occurred in November 2022, when James-Tulee assaulted his then-partner by striking and biting her in Toppenish, Washington, causing substantial bodily injury. The second assault with strangulation occurred in July 2025 when James-Tulee bit and choked a different partner outside of a residence in Wapato, Washington. One of the victims reported suffering repeated acts of violence at the hands of Tulee. “Domestic violence undermines the safety and wellbeing of our entire community,” stated Serrano. “Our office remains committed to holding offenders accountable and supporting survivors through every step of the process. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement, tribal and community partners to ensure that those affected by domestic violence are heard, protected, and empowered.” “This sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. James-Tulee’s repeated and escalating violence against his partners and shows that domestic violence offenders will see consequences for their actions. Along with other forms of violence, abusers may seek to instill fear and exert control by strangling or suffocating their partners. Let this be a message to them: this egregious violence will not be tolerated. Native American women experience the highest rates of domestic abuse in the nation, and FBI Seattle remains committed to working alongside our Tribal partners to ensure victims are protected and offenders held responsible," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yakama Nation Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Murphy. 1:25-CR-2117-RLP