Man convicted of assaulting a US border agent near Tucson

PHOENIX – A man who attacked a U.S. Border Patrol agent near Tucson has been sentenced to one year in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced Friday.

Manuel Duarte-Ibarra, 32, of Mexico pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a federal officer on July 3, 2024.

On February 21, a US Border Patrol agent attempted to handcuff Duarte-Ibarra, who then pulled his hands away as he tried to flee. Duarte-Ibarra kicked the officer several times in the chest as they struggled on the ground, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

The incident happened near Newfield, between the Arizona and Mexico border.

Duarte-Ibarra told officers that he was illegally assisting in the smuggling of undocumented immigrants and that he was also under the influence of methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol’s Customs and Border Protection. United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez decided the sentencing.