Larry Todd Hoffmeister, Assault on Federal Officers, New Mexico 2024

LAS CRUCES, NM – Larry Todd Hoffmeister, 51, of Columbus, New Mexico, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly opening fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents earlier this week. A U.S. Magistrate Judge found probable cause to support a criminal complaint against Hoffmeister, accusing him of assaulting federal officers.

The incident unfolded on April 12, 2017, in Luna County, near the west side of the Columbus Port of Entry. According to the criminal complaint, Hoffmeister discharged his weapon twice while Border Patrol agents were observing him. The details surrounding the initial observation and what prompted the alleged shooting remain tightly guarded, but the feds are treating this as a direct threat to their officers.

Hoffmeister was taken into custody the same day and formally charged with resisting and assaulting federal officers. He was released pending trial, but under strict pretrial supervision and other conditions dictated by the court. Expect a heavy presence at his hearings – the Border Patrol doesn’t take attacks on its personnel lightly.

If convicted on the charges outlined in the complaint, Hoffmeister could be looking at a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. This isn’t a slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor; this is a felony that carries significant consequences. The feds will likely push for the full extent of the law.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the U.S. Border Patrol, demonstrating the seriousness with which federal agencies are approaching this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan, from the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office, is leading the prosecution.

It’s crucial to remember that these are merely accusations at this stage. Hoffmeister is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But the evidence, as presented to the Magistrate Judge, was enough to establish probable cause and move the case forward. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.