A Portland man now faces up to two decades in prison after admitting to a brutal attack on a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The incident unfolded last June during a protest, revealing a shocking contrast between the attacker’s public persona and his violent actions.
Robert Jacob Hoopes, 25, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, acknowledging he intentionally threw a large rock at an ICE officer’s head. The impact caused a severe laceration over the officer’s eye, a wound that underscored the potential for tragic consequences.
The attack wasn’t an isolated act. Court documents reveal that later the same day, Hoopes and two others wielded an upended stop sign as a battering ram, inflicting significant damage to the ICE building’s main entrance. Their intent was clear: to forcefully breach a federal facility.
Hoopes’s case took a peculiar turn as he presented himself as a “Quaker pacifist” while awaiting trial. This carefully constructed image sharply contrasted with the evidence of his violent actions, captured on camera during the assault and subsequent vandalism.
Federal investigators discovered Hoopes was taken into custody following a raid at his home, shared with a partner also linked to extremist groups. The FBI’s investigation uncovered a pattern of behavior far removed from the peaceful facade he projected.
The initial indictment included a charge of depredation of federal property, exceeding $1,000 in damages, but this was later dropped as part of a plea agreement. Hoopes has agreed to full restitution, estimated to be over $7,000, to cover the costs of the damage he caused.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge. The Department of Justice confirmed the maximum penalty Hoopes faces is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
This case highlights the dangers faced by federal law enforcement officers and the potential for violence masked by political rhetoric. The severity of the charges reflects the seriousness with which the Department of Justice views attacks on its personnel and federal property.
