TUCSON, Ariz. — A 26-year-old from Oro Valley is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a United States Border Patrol agent with a firearm while the agent was searching a nearby property.
The incident happened on April 11 in Nogales when border patrol agents saw a person jump over the border fence and run onto nearby private property, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The agent in question followed in search of them.
While the agent was searching the property, Erik Alberto Beal reportedly came out of a home adjacent to the border fence and confronted the agent with a Sig Sauer, Model P250, .45 caliber pistol. Beal is accused of pointing the firearm at the agent before being subdued and arrested.
A federal grand jury in Tucson indicted Beal earlier in May on two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
If convicted, Beal could face up to 20 years in prison for the assault charges, and seven years up to life imprisonment for the charge of brandishing a firearm. Beal could also potentially face a $250,000 fine for each conviction.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation with help from the United States Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
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