A Mexican national who assaulted a U.S Forest Service officer near Douglas in 2014 was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison on Monday.
Jesus Eder Moreno-Ornelas, 31, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, had been found guilty earlier by a federal jury of aggravated assault of a federal officer, use of a firearm in connection with a violent crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, two counts of attempted robbery of government property and illegal re-entry after deportation.
U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson in Tucson sentenced him to 520 months in prison.
Evidence at trial showed that on Aug. 23, 2014, Moreno-Ornelas and another person were approached by a Forest Service officer in the Coronado National Forest in a rural area near Douglas, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Moreno-Ornelas attacked the officer and took his gun, assaulting the officer and firing several shots before the officer gained control of the firearm, the release said. He also tried to steal the officer's patrol vehicle but was arrested when the vehicle wouldn't start because of a security feature.
At sentencing, Jorgenson found that Moreno-Ornelas intended to kill the officer and that he also attempted to obstruct justic by threatening a witness. He is also a convicted felon who was illegally present in the United State after having been deported.
