An illegal alien, Hugo Alexander Garcia-Sales, from Guatemala, pleaded guilty last week to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer With a Deadly Weapon or Dangerous Instrument and one count of Improper Entry by an Alien.
According to the Department of Justice, on October 13, 2022, the 22-year-old Garcia-Sales assaulted a United States Customs and Border Protection helicopter pilot by throwing five softball-sized rocks at the helicopter. Although Garcia-Sales failed to hit the helicopter, one rock came within several feet of striking the aircraft.
As part of his plea agreement, Garcia-Sales admitted that striking the helicopter with any of the rocks could have caused the aircraft to crash. Additionally, Garcia-Sales admitted that he is not an American citizen, and that he entered the country without legal permission to enter or remain in the United States.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2023, before United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez.