Arizona man sentenced to more than 2 years in prison for pointing gun at border agent

PHOENIX — An Arizona man was sentenced to more than two years in prison for pointing a gun at a border patrol agent, officials said.

Erik Alberto Beal, 28, was sentenced to 32 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release for the incident on Tuesday, according the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Prosecutors said that Beal previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.

Details on why the Arizona man was sentenced

Last year, on April 11, two border patrol agents were looking for an undocumented migrant they saw cross into the United States near Beal’s home in Nogales.

The agents split up and were looking around the residence when a side door opened and a pit bull ran out at one of the agents. The agent proceeded to draw his service weapon, point it at the dog and begin shouting.

Prosecutors said that is when Beal exited the home, grabbed a handgun from his truck, loaded it and pointed it at the agents — who was in uniform.

A brief standoff took place between the two before the second border patrol agent arrived and pointed his service weapon at Beal. That is when Beal lowered his weapon.

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