TUCSON, Ariz. – Manuel Duarte-Ibarra, a 32-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a federal officer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez after Duarte-Ibarra pleaded guilty to the charge on July 3, 2024.
The incident occurred on February 21, 2024, near Newfield, Arizona, when Duarte-Ibarra was encountered by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a routine operation. When the agent attempted to place him in handcuffs, Duarte-Ibarra resisted by jerking his hands away and trying to flee. During the ensuing struggle, Duarte-Ibarra kicked the agent in the chest multiple times while they were both on the ground.
Following his arrest, Duarte-Ibarra admitted to Border Patrol agents that he was in the area to transport undocumented noncitizens illegally. He also confessed to being under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the altercation.
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Houston of the District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. The case underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting federal officers and enforcing the law along the nation’s borders.
Duarte-Ibarra’s sentence includes a year in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, during which he will be monitored to ensure compliance with legal conditions. The incident highlights the challenges faced by Border Patrol agents in securing the U.S. border and preventing illegal activities.
