A Tahlequah man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country following a July 2024 killing that occurred on the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
Colby Lin Deerinwater, 30, entered a guilty plea to one count of Voluntary Manslaughter, a federal charge punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to court documents, Deerinwater killed the victim on July 5, 2024, during a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion.
The crime occurred in Cherokee County within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, placing the case under federal jurisdiction.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), and the Tahlequah Police Department. The plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson, who ordered that a pre-sentence investigation report be prepared. Deerinwater will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing. A U.S. District Judge will decide the final sentence after reviewing federal sentencing guidelines and applicable statutes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan is prosecuting the case.
