San Francisco Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Assaulting a Security Guard at the Oakland Federal Courthouse

OAKLAND—Antonio Chavez was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for assaulting a security guard protecting the federal courthouse in Oakland, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson, and Mario A. Canton, Regional Director at the Department of Homeland Security.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes the safety of the personnel who protect federal employees and federal property very seriously. Our prosecution of this case, and the resulting sentence, demonstrate our commitment to holding accountable those who endanger the people who keep us safe,” said United States Attorney Melinda Haag.

“The Federal Protective Service takes full satisfaction with the outcome of this case in that there is a strong, clear message being sent emphasizing that we will investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those individuals who assault the law enforcement and security staff protecting our facilities,” said Regional Director Mario A. Canton.

On November 18, 2013, after a four-day trial, a jury convicted Chavez of assaulting a person assisting a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) and (b). Evidence at trial showed that on December 8, 2012, at about 3 a.m., private security guards noticed on surveillance video a group of six or seven individuals vandalizing the guard house next to the federal building in Oakland, California, on the corner of 12th Street and Jefferson Street. One of the guards went to the guard house to investigate the vandalism. The group largely dispersed as the guard approached, but two individuals remained when the guard arrived. As the guard continued his investigation, one of the individuals attempted to grab the guard’s flashlight, and a struggled ensued. During that struggle, Chavez attacked the guard with an electric stun gun, striking him in the neck and chest and knocking him to the ground. Chavez later brandished and activated the stun gun while threatening the security guard with it. Chavez was ultimately apprehended later that night by the Oakland Police Department. At trial, Chavez testified that he acted in defense of another person. The jury rejected this claim with its guilty verdict.

Chavez, 21, of San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2013. Chavez was remanded into custody following his conviction at trial. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton, United States District Court Judge in Oakland. Judge Hamilton also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lewis and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Manish Kumar prosecuted this case with the assistance of Janice Pagsanjan and Noble Hughes. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Protective Service, the Oakland Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.