Miguel Angel Acatzihua-Temoxtle, Assault on a Federal Officer Resulting in Bodily Injury, Arizona 2022

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Tucson Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Border Patrol Agents

Tucson, Arizona – A disturbing case of assault on federal officers has led to a guilty plea in a Tucson courtroom. Miguel Angel Acatzihua-Temoxtle, a 26-year-old man from Mexico, pleaded guilty to assaulting two Border Patrol agents in May 2022.

According to court documents, on May 31, 2022, near Newfield, Arizona, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Border Patrol agents were conducting operations at the San Miguel Forward Operating Base. The agents received information that several groups of undocumented non-citizens were passing through the Baboquivari Mountain range. During their investigation, one of the agents identified Acatzihua-Temoxtle, who then fled from the agents.

Acatzihua-Temoxtle attempted to evade capture by running up the side of a wash while kicking several large boulders above one of the agents to slow his pursuit. Despite the obstacles, the agents continued to pursue him. It was then that Acatzihua-Temoxtle physically assaulted two agents, using an agent’s flashlight and lanyard, which held night vision goggles, as a deadly weapon.

Border Patrol ultimately detained and arrested Acatzihua-Temoxtle. The charges against him include one count of Assault on a Federal Officer Resulting in Bodily Injury and one count of Assault on a Federal Officer with the Use of a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon.

A conviction for assault on a federal officer resulting in bodily injury carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. A conviction for assault on a federal officer with the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon also carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

Assistant United States Attorney Raquel Arellano is handling the prosecution in this case. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation. The case number is CR-22-01420-TUC-JCH-JR, and the release number is 2023-038_Acatzihua-Temoxtle.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is committed to bringing justice to the victims of violent crimes. This case serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, urges anyone with information about this case to come forward and assist in the investigation.