A Jerome man, Jonathan Kip Medford, was sentenced to 27 months in prison last week after pleading guilty to Assault on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer with Physical Contact and Infliction of Bodily Injury.
Medford’s sentence is to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the Department of Justice, on February 15, 2022, the 34-year-old Medford assaulted a USDA Forest Service law enforcement officer during a stop in the Coconino National Forest. The officer was investigating a minor traffic violation and an illegal camping violation.
Medford, who was wanted on a state warrant and lied about his name during the encounter, failed to obey the officer’s instructions as the officer attempted to detain him. Rather than comply, Medford charged the officer causing them both to fall to the ground where a struggle ensued. After the struggle the officer freed himself and Medford fled the area on foot.
Medford was apprehended the next day at a residence by officers from the Jerome Police Department.