Portland Man Could Get 30 Years After Throwing Rocks and Ramming ICE Building Entrance
PORTLAND, Ore. — A 24-year-old Portland man, who is the 23rd defendant charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with offenses at the ICE building, faces a possible 30 years behind bars.
Robert Jacob Hoopes appeared in a federal court yesterday, charged with aggravated assault, with a dangerous weapon, of a federal officer, and depredation of more than $1,000 to federal property.
The Defendant Threw Rocks At the Building and Used a Makeshift Battery Ram On the Entrance Doorway
The charges are related to an incident that occurred during a protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland on June 14. Witnesses saw Hoopes throw large rocks at the building, one of which struck a federal officer above the eye, leaving a significant laceration.
Hoopes, together with two other individuals, was spotted later the same day using a makeshift battering ram on the entrance door to the building.
He was arrested by FBI agents on July 25 and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge yesterday, where he was ordered released, pending trial.
The felony count of aggravated assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Additionally, damaging federal property valued at more than $1,000 is also classified as a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI is leading the investigation, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is handling the prosecution.
So far, 23 individuals have been charged in connection with crimes at the ICE facility. Charges range from assaulting federal officers, arson, possession of a destructive device, and depredation of government property.
The protest at the ICE building on June 14 was related to public outcries against the treatment of Oregonian immigrants. The protesters were opposing the Trump administration’s increasing forced arrests of immigrants by federal officers.