Guilty Pleas: Mexican Nationals Admit to Assaulting Border Patrol Agent in Texas
Two Mexican nationals, Jose Maria Reyes-Fuentes, 23, and his brother Juventino Darinel Reyes-Fuentes, 29, recently pleaded guilty to assaulting a Border Patrol agent in Texas, as announced by the US Attorney’s Office.
The incident occurred on August 20, 2023, near the Santa Teresa Patrol Station in New Mexico, where the two individuals struck a Border Patrol agent who attempted to arrest them.
Assault on Border Patrol Agent
The altercation unfolded when a Border Patrol agent began pursuing a group of five to seven migrants riding on an all-terrain vehicle.
After a brief search, the agent located Juventino Darinel hiding in a bush. During the attempted handcuffing, Juventino Darinel resisted, and at this point, Jose Maria emerged from a distance and ran towards the agent with a stick.
The agent, facing the escalating situation, disengaged from Juventino Darinel, drew his duty weapon, and commanded Jose Maria to stop in Spanish.
Subsequently, Juventino Darinel tackled the agent, leading to an altercation during which Jose Maria made contact with the agent.
Feeling threatened, the agent fired his weapon at Juventino Darinel’s leg, but a malfunction occurred, resulting in the agent losing control of the firearm.
Following the altercation, the two assailants disengaged from the agent and fled into the desert. Other agents continued to track the ATV, eventually locating it at the bottom of a mesa. Juventino Darinel and Jose Maria were apprehended after being spotted by a Border Patrol helicopter.
Mexican Nationals Guilty Plea: FBI Investigation near Mexico Border
Both individuals will remain in custody pending sentencing, the schedule for which is yet to be determined. Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, provided details on the incident.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, with assistance from the US Border Patrol.
Assistant US Attorney Matthew Ramirez is handling the prosecution of the case. The Santa Teresa Patrol Station, situated just west of El Paso, Texas, plays a crucial role in border security and is located near the US-Mexico border, across from Ciudad Juárez.
