12 indicted for assaulting two federal correctional officers in La Villa

A federal grand jury has indicted 12 people for assaulting two federal correctional officers in January, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Mexican nationals Francisco Antonio Hernandez-Mora, 27; Bryan Hernandez-Ruiz, 25; Ivan Ramirez-Zapata, 40; Adrian David Guzman-Salas, 28; David Ramirez-Bautista, 21; Roberto Fabian Garza-Castaneda, 49; Jose Alberto Resendez-Hernandez, 27; Jose Ramos-Lerma, 45; Ruben Gonzalez-Balderas, 29; and Oscar Ambrocio Hernandez, 25, were all charged.

In addition, two Guatemalan nationals, Osman Joen Hernandez-Pavon, 22, and Roger Emmanuel Lemus, 42, were also charged.

According to the release, all 12 men allegedly aided and abetted the assault of two federal corrections officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa.

The criminal complaint for Hernandez-Mora states that on Jan. 20 he “did intentionally forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate or interfere with … a federal correctional officer, who was engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties and such acts caused physical contact.”

The East Hidalgo Detention Center is a federal prison operated by a private corporation and the officer, identified as C.S.T. in the complaint, was employed with The GEO Group, according to the complaint.

At about 8 p.m., C.S.T. was physically assaulted by a group of detainees within A Pod 4, the complaint said.

A review of the surveillance camera footage of A Pod 4 showed the assault.

“Agents observed as officer C.S.T. entered A Pod 4 housing unit carrying a large container of water to provide to the detainees,” the complaint said. “Agents observed as multiple detainees then began to gather closer and around officer C.S.T.”

Once one detainee raised his fist and struck C.S.T., the other detainees began to punch and kick the officer.

Hernandez-Mora was identified as the detainee that struck officer C.S.T. with his fists.

“Within the footage Hernandez-Mora is seen striking officer C.S.T. with his fists as well as standing over officer C.S.T. while he is on the ground and continuing to strike C.S.T.,” the complaint said.

Although the press release states two federal correctional officers were assaulted, only one, namely officer C.S.T., is mentioned in the complaint.

All 12 men were scheduled to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis in McAllen federal court Wednesday morning.

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