A routine stop at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint led to a federal criminal case after authorities said a driver attempted to flee and struck a federal agent. According to federal court records, the incident occurred on August 1, 2023, along U.S. Highway 57, where Border Patrol agents were conducting standard immigration enforcement operations. During the stop, a Border Patrol K9 unit alerted officers to possible concealed activity inside a sedan driven by 26-year-old Kevin Dominguez.
Agents searched the vehicle and opened the trunk, where prosecutors say they discovered an undocumented individual hidden inside. Authorities stated that at that point Dominguez shifted the vehicle into reverse in an attempt to escape from the checkpoint. During the attempted getaway, a federal agent was struck before the vehicle sped away from the scene. Officials said the injured agent later recovered from the incident. Dominguez was apprehended a short time later and taken into custody.
Federal prosecutors charged him with assaulting a federal officer and transporting an individual unlawfully present in the United States. In court filings, prosecutors argued that the attempt to flee created serious danger for both the agent who was struck and the person concealed in the trunk. A federal judge later sentenced Dominguez to 18 months in federal prison, followed by a term of supervised release. In determining the sentence, the court considered several factors, including the injury to the agent, the risks created by the attempted escape, and the circumstances surrounding the offense. Authorities say the case highlights the serious legal consequences that can result when encounters with law enforcement escalate into violent or reckless actions.
