Tucson Standard

John R. Modlin, Chief Patrol Agent of the US Border Patrol (USBP), has announced the indictment of a local man following an incident with a USBP agent on April 11. The announcement was made in a post on May 17, where Modlin also shared information from the US Attorney’s Office in Arizona regarding the indictment.

The US Attorney's office post directed readers to a Justice Department news release. This release identified Erik Alberto Beal, a 26-year-old man from Oro Valley, as the individual indicted by a federal grand jury in Tucson. Beal faces two counts of Assault of a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon, specifically a Firearm, and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

According to the Justice Department news release, the incident took place on April 11 in Nogales. It is alleged that Beal assaulted an on-duty USBP agent with a firearm.

Screenshot of John R. Modlin's May 17 post on X | X

The release detailed that "Border Patrol agents were working near the United States-Mexico Border when a subject jumped the International Boundary Fence and ran onto nearby property. The victim agent ran in search of the suspected undocumented non-citizen. During this search, Beal emerged from an adjacent residence to the border fence and confronted the agent. Beal pointed his firearm, identified as a Sig Sauer Model P250 .45 caliber pistol, at the victim agent before eventually being subdued and arrested."

If convicted on charges of Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon, Beal could face up to 20 years in prison or be fined $250,000 - or both. Additionally, for Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, he faces mandatory sentencing ranging from seven years to life imprisonment and/or fines up to $250,000.