TUCSON, ARIZONA – A Pima County judge sentenced a local teen to adult prison after he admitted to speeding through a U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint and striking a U.S. Border Patrol agent with his 2004 Oldsmobile.
“This case highlights that Arizona law will require adult prison time for children charged with the most serious crimes. We ask parents, neighbors, and teachers to be on the lookout for criminal entities who are exploiting children by luring them in with quick cash. They are more than willing to throw our children away to pursue criminal and financial gain,” said Pima County Attorney Laura Conover.
On February 13, 2024, Tohono O’odham police stopped the car in question after seeing it speeding eastbound on SR 86 with a cracked windshield. When the officer exited his vehicle, the driver sped away, leading the police on a chase for less than two miles before they abandoned pursuit.
The car continued eastbound on SR 86, approached an immigration checkpoint set up on the westbound lanes of the highway, steered into oncoming traffic in the westbound lanes, and struck a Border Patrol agent who was unable to get out of the way. The impact threw the agent into the air, and he was quickly flown by helicopter to Banner University Medical Center for treatment of extensive injuries.
After the incident, the driver continued driving erratically toward Tucson, crashing the car near Mission Road and SR 86 (Ajo Way), before fleeing on foot.
“I am incredibly grateful that the federal agent, struck while on duty, miraculously survived. And because of that miracle, the child in question gets to avoid what could have been a near life sentence for homicide. When you risk lives on our roads, you are risking the rest of your life in prison. The Pima County Attorney’s Office has established a strong record of accountability in this arena, working toward making our roads safer,” Conover added.
After an extensive investigation, the driver was taken into custody on March 28, 2024, without incident by special agents from the Tucson office of the FBI Phoenix division. Then in July, the teen pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Dangerous Instrument and was sentenced on August 5 by a Pima County Superior Court judge to six years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Through the collaborative efforts of Pima County prosecutors John Strader, Brad Terrace, and Mark Hotchkiss, the FBI, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the Tohono O’odham Police Department, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Tucson Police Department and Department of Public Safety, a resolution was reached in this case.
“This case also represents fantastic cooperation across six separate law enforcement agencies and our Office. And we all continue to keep the agent and his family in our prayers.” Conover said.
Media Contact: Shawndrea Thomas
Director of Communications
Pima County Attorney’s Office
(520) 724-5738 (Office)
(520) 310-4720 (Mobile)
Shawndrea.Thomas@pcao.pima.gov
