San Benito man sent to prison for attempting to run over FBI agent

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A San Benito man was sentenced to nearly five years in prison after attempting to run over a federal agent while in a stolen vehicle.

Damian Evans Lopez, 23, has been ordered to serve approximately 110 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for assaulting a federal officer.

Lopez was arrested in late June following a 20-minute pursuit at 100 mph that began at the Gateway International Bridge Port of Entry in Brownsville.

The pursuit began after an FBI agent was engaged in an investigation involving stolen vehicles being illegally exported into Mexico.

The FBI agent identified a stolen Chevrolet truck parked near Brownsville Port of Entry and began to approach the stolen vehicle with Lopez inside.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI agent asked Lopez to exit from the driver seat.

Lopez then began to accelerate the vehicle at the FBI agent, nearly hitting the agent.

At the hearing, the court heard how Lopez had three prior felony convictions for evading arrest with motor vehicles.

Lopez is in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.