Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting ICE Officer with Rock

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A 25-year-old Portland man named Robert Jacob Hoopes has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with a rock during a protest in June 2025. Hoopes struck the officer in the head, causing a significant laceration, and was also seen using a stop sign as a battering ram to damage the ICE building's main entry door. Hoopes, who describes himself as a 'Quaker pacifist,' faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and far-left activist groups in Portland, with Hoopes representing a more violent faction that has targeted federal agencies like ICE. The attack on the ICE officer and property damage raise concerns about the potential for escalating violence from extremist elements within the city's protest movements.

The details

According to court documents, on June 14, 2025, Hoopes threw a large rock and struck an ICE officer in the head, causing a significant laceration over the officer's eye. Later that same day, Hoopes and two other individuals were seen using an upended stop sign as a makeshift battering ram, resulting in significant damage to the main entry door of the ICE building. Hoopes was originally charged with felony aggravated assault of a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, along with a separate count of depredation of federal property exceeding $1,000. The property charge was later dismissed as part of a plea deal.

• On June 14, 2025, Hoopes threw a rock and struck an ICE officer in the head.
• On June 14, 2025, Hoopes and two others used a stop sign as a battering ram to damage the ICE building's main entry door.
• On August 5, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Hoopes.
• On February 21, 2026, Hoopes pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a federal employee with a dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury.
• On May 12, 2026, Hoopes will be sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Hoopes will be sentenced on May 12, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge. The judge will decide on the final sentence, which could be up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.