A federal grand jury has indicted Jacob Daniel Terrazas, 30, of Paramount, on a charge of assaulting a federal employee with a deadly and dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury. The indictment follows an incident last June during a protest near a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Paramount that escalated into violence.
According to court documents, Terrazas was among several individuals who threw objects such as cinderblocks and rocks at federal agents during the protest on June 7. He allegedly used makeshift shields and trees for cover while repeatedly advancing toward agents to throw remnants of cinderblock.
One Border Patrol agent was struck in the left shin by a piece of cinderblock thrown by Terrazas, causing bleeding. The agent temporarily left the front lines to address his injury but returned after determining he could still walk and stand. Another agent was hit by rocks but was not injured.
Law enforcement responded with less-lethal force pepper bells against those throwing rocks. After approximately three hours, officers detained and arrested Terrazas, who had been wearing a dark beanie and black mask covering the lower half of his face.
Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated: “We will not stand by while our brave federal agents and officers get hurt. If you injure an official enforcing immigration law, you may serve 20 years in a federal prison cell. It’s just not worth it.”
Terrazas is scheduled for trial on September 23. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. HSI is conducting the investigation into the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Mackie and Brenda Galván from the General Crimes Section are prosecuting.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime; every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
