Tyler and Eli Chaffin are two killers from New Mexico who would be convicted in the murder of William Johnson
According to court documents Tyler and Eli Chaffin went to William Johnson home regarding a vehicle owned by Sierra Collins. Once they arrived Tyler Chaffin would get into a physical altercation. Eli Chaffin reported he was sitting in a car when he heard a gunshot and saw William Johnson with a gun so he got out of the car and shot William Johnson
Tyler and Eli Chaffin would be arrested and charged with first degree murder. However when it was time for court Eli Chaffin would plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and his brother Tyler Chaffin would plead no contest to second degree murder
Eli Chaffin would be sentenced to six years in prison
Tyler Chaffin who was a convicted felon would receive a fifteen year prison sentence
Sierra Collins was charged with first degree murder and conspiracy however before she had her day in court she would pass away
Tyler Chaffin Now
| Offender ID: | 537042 |
|---|---|
| NMCD Number: | 91949 |
| Last Name: | Chaffin |
| First Name: | Tyler |
| Middle Name: | |
| Offender Status: | INMATE |
| Facility/Region: | Guadalupe County Correctional Center/GCCF |
Eli Chaffin Now
| Offender ID: | 550397 |
|---|---|
| NMCD Number: | 91953 |
| Last Name: | Chaffin |
| First Name: | Eli |
| Middle Name: | |
| Offender Status: | INMATE |
| Facility/Region: | Roswell Correctional Center/RCC |
Tyler And Eli Chaffin Case
In an emotional sentencing hearing, two brothers admitted to killing a San Juan County man, while the deceased’s family members expressed anger and hostility toward the system and the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office.
The family of William Johnson accused the DA’s office of accepting money for a plea agreement and went so far as to flip off deputies while driving away from the Eleventh Judicial District Court in Aztec.
The Wednesday hearing was exactly two years to the date that Johnson’s family buried William after he was beaten by Tyler Chaffin, 25, and shot to death by Eli Chaffin, 21, on July 24, 2022 at a home on County Road 3400.
The Chaffin brothers went to the home to check on a car, owned by Sierra Collins, 23, who had been in a relationship with Johnson. She is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy for allegedly making statements that led the slaying.
Eli Chaffin was offered a plea agreement, reducing a first-degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter and dropping a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
In court, Eli Chaffin stated that he and his brother went to Johnson’s home to check on the car. He remained in the car, while Tyler Chaffin got out and fought with Johnson.
“I heard a firearm go off. I got out of the vehicle at the end of the back side, I saw Mr. Johnson reaching for a firearm,” Eli said. “I yelled at him several times to stop. He would not, so I shot and killed him.”
District Judge Curtis Gurley accepted the plea and adjudicated Eli Chaffin’s guilt.
Tyler Chaffin, who was charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence, entered a no-contest plea to second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The other charges were dismissed.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Sanchez stated that Tyler went to Johnson’s home and “intended for Mr. Johnson to be killed.”
Tyler had been convicted of a felony in 2021 for battery on a peace officer, and Sanchez said he “knowingly possessed a firearm” when he went to Johnson’s home.
Gurley also accepted Tyler Chaffin’s plea and adjudicated his guilt.
Gurley sentenced Eli Chaffin to six years in prison, followed by two years of parole.
Gurley sentenced Tyler Chaffin to 15 years in prison on the second-degree murder charge and three years for being a felon in possession of the firearm. The sentences will run concurrently. Gurley then suspended one year of that sentence, ordering Tyler Chaffin to spend 15 years in prison followed by two years of parole.
After both pleas were accepted, members of Johnson’s family expressed their displeasure with the DA’s office for offering reduced charges.
Penny Johnson Jones, Johnson’s mother, stated in court that Deputy District Attorney Dustin O’Brien presented the deal without her knowledge.
“When you shoot someone in the back, I don’t know how you get more intentional than that,” she said. “His brother wasn’t even supposed to be around guns, because he assaulted a police officer.”
Johnson’s stepfather, James Jones, said he couldn’t picture anyone seeing it as “anything less than murder.”
Jones also claimed the DA’s office tried to offer the same plea in District Judge Daylene Marsh’s court, but she “rejected the plea. However, Gurley corrected Jones saying he didn’t see such a rejection.
John Counce, a close friend of Johnson’s, told the brothers they were “supposed to look out for one another,” and their “ignorance and inability to form critical thinking” causes Johnson’s family “immeasurable emptiness every day.”
Lacey Dillingham, Johnson’s former wife, told Gurley the plea deals were “a slap in all of our faces” and “outrageous.”
“These pleas were offered to Tyler and Eli without the family’s consent, without telling anyone,” she said, questioning the Chaffin’s choice of defense attorneys – Arlon Stoker and Mark Curnutt. “I’m not even sure how Eli and Tyler have two of the best attorneys in town for this murder case.”
Stacy Troyer, Johnson’s sister, said the pain “inflicted by these two brothers can never be reversed,” adding they don’t deserve a plea deal and should answer “for what they have done.”
Gurley allowed Johnson’s family to have their say, then told them that insinuating the plea deal involved money or friendship was “uncalled for.”
“I am sorry you feel that way, but I can assure you nothing like that took place,” Gurley said.
Stoker said in his closing argument that the plea deal was “hard-fought and hard-argued,” as he echoed the judge’s sentiment saying that “Dustin O’Brien is one of the most honest ethical persons I know.”
Stoker said he and O’Brien looked as several cases “and argued and argued” to get the plea worked out.
The Chaffin brothers both apologized to the family.
Eli Chaffin said he “took action to defend my brother” and felt his life was in danger, adding his brother has always been there for him.
Tyler Chaffin said he knows he will “live differently” for the rest of his life, adding he accepts “responsibility and the consequences for what happened.”
“I will live with that guilt for the rest of my life,” he said.
The boys’ mother, Tiffany Chaffin, called the killing a “very unfortunate thing,” when she told the judge her “boys have a lot to offer.”
“Wasting away in prison is not going to be a benefit to them,” she said.
The boys’ father, Sean Chaffin, painted a picture of boys involved in 4-H and FFA.
“I taught my boys a work ethic and how to contribute to society,” he said. “If I for one minute I thought my boys did this out of callous or malicious intent I would not have had lawyers for them.”
While the Chaffins spoke, some friends and members of the Johnson family made comments including explicit language, causing the bailiff to ask them to be quiet. Greg Mullins, the brother-in-law of Johnson, then stood up, saying he could not listen to this, and left the courtroom.
Sierra Collins Death
The woman at the center of the William Johnson homicide has died from injuries she received while in the San Juan County Detention Center.
Sierra Collins, 23, was hospitalized Sept. 13 at San Juan Regional Medical Center with “serious medical problems” and “limited brain function,” according to an unopposed emergency motion to modify conditions of release.
The nature of the medical problem was not stated in the motion, but it did state that the San Juan County Detention Center was “unable to properly provide the necessary care” to Collins in order “to maintain her life.”
A motion to drop the charges was filed Sept. 20, and it states, “the defendant is deceased. Consequently, the present matter is rendered moot, and the case is dismissed.”
Collins was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the July 24, 2022, killing of Johnson at his home on County Road 3400.
It was alleged that Collins encouraged Eli Chaffin, 21, and Tyler Chaffin, 25, to shoot Johnson, with whom she was in a relationship. The Chaffin brothers entered into a plea agreement on July 31, admitting to the role they played in Johnson’s death.
Eli Chaffin pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. Tyler Chaffin pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Eli who shot Johnson, when he thought the man was going to shoot his brother.
“I heard a firearm go off. I got out of the vehicle at the end of the back side, I saw Mr. Johnson reaching for a firearm. I yelled at him several times to stop. He would not, so I shot and killed him,” Eli said during the hearing.
Both he and Tyler had driven Sierra to Johnson’s home to “check on her car,” which was “supposedly being worked on by William,” according to the affidavit for arrest warrant.
During the Chaffin brothers’ hearing, Defense Attorney Mark Curnutt alluded to Collins’ “threatening” actions toward Johnson.
“It was very evident that Sierra Collins had the ability to provoke the absolute extremes out of Mr. Johnson.” Curnutt said, adding Collins knew Johnson was a “good guy,” who “did wear his emotions on his sleeve. She played on that. She knew about his prior actions. She could provoke things out of him.”
In one text message dated July 23, 2022, Collins allegedly told William to meet her “to get shot in the face,” the affidavit states.
Collins’ trial was set in December.
Woman facing murder trial dies after ‘serious medical problem’ in San Juan County jail – The Journal
