A man who admitted to attacking a federal officer during protests at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, last year received a 30-month federal prison sentence on Thursday. Robert Jacob Hoopes previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a federal employee with a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, Hoopes threw a rock during a protest in June 2025. The rock struck an ICE officer in the face, causing significant injury. Prosecutors noted that the officer’s wound bled heavily, impairing his vision, and necessitated medical treatment beyond basic first aid.
U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford for the District of Oregon emphasized the legal consequences of such actions, stating, “Today’s message is clear — violence is not a protest. When you cross the line and assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted.” In addition to the prison term, Hoopes faces three years of supervised release and must pay over $8,000 in restitution.
FBI investigators identified Hoopes using facial recognition technology, according to Fox News Digital. The investigation involved submitting a photograph published by OregonLive.com into available facial recognition software. This process generated approximately 30 potential matches from public databases. Investigators ultimately identified Hoopes through a photograph on a Reed College SmugMug page titled “Canyon Day April ’23,” where a visible tattoo matched one seen on the suspect during the June protest.
Hoopes’ father, Tom Hoopes, described his son as a “lifelong Quaker deeply committed to pacifism” during an interview with KATU. While he did not dispute his son’s attendance at the protest, he refrained from commenting on his specific actions, stating, “What his involvement was: I can’t speak to that, but he is deeply committed to justice.”
The Justice Department has pursued numerous cases against individuals accused of assaulting federal officers during protests related to former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. For example, Brendan John Geier faced charges after allegedly assaulting federal officers during a protest outside Newark’s Delaney Hall detention center, where recent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement have resulted in dozens of arrests.
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