Simeon Calnimptewa : Teen Arrested in Murder Case to Face Adult Charges

WASHINGTON CITY, Utah — A 17-year-old teenager who was arrested over the weekend after a man was found dead in a Washington City apartment will be charged as an adult, police have confirmed.

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Authorities have identified the teenager as Simeon Calnimptewa and have charged him with a series of serious felonies in connection with the incident.

Charges and Legal Ramifications

Calnimptewa faces six first-degree felonies, including charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and three counts of felony discharge of a firearm. In addition, he also faces five third-degree felonies, including charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.

Under Utah law, when a 16 or 17-year-old juvenile is charged with murder or aggravated murder, they must be charged as an adult. The maximum sentence for such charges is 25 years to life, with no possibility of death penalty or life without parole.

Details of the Incident

The charges stem from the alleged aggravated murder of Bransen Bryels-Nechanikey, who was found dead inside a Washington City apartment in the early hours of Sunday.

According to reports, police responded to reports of shots fired at an apartment complex on North Red Trail at around 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they found Bryels-Nechanikey with gunshot wounds, and he later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

A second victim who was present at the scene told police that they had returned to the apartment to find their belongings gathered in the living room. An unidentified male then emerged from one of the bedrooms, brandishing a firearm.

A scuffle ensued between Bryels-Nechanikey and the intruder, during which the intruder discharged his firearm multiple times. The intruder then demanded the victims open the door, grabbed a jar of money, and fled the scene.

Investigation and Arrest

Police identified Calnimptewa as a suspect after reviewing security camera footage and brought him in for questioning. During the interview, Calnimptewa admitted to being the individual in the footage but claimed he could not recall the events of the night.

Further investigation led detectives to discover a hoodie, mask, and gloves with blood in Calnimptewa’s apartment, matching the evidence from the security footage. The stolen jar of money and two handguns were also recovered during the search.

Calnimptewa is currently being held in the Washington County Jail without bond, awaiting his initial court appearance.