Portland man pleads not guilty to assaulting federal officer at ICE protest

Robert "Jacob" Hoopes pleaded not guilty on August 15 to charges of aggravated assault on a federal officer and damaging a federal building related to a protest at the ICE facility in South Portland on June 14, 2025. During the protest, police declared a riot as Hoopes allegedly threw rocks, injuring an ICE agent and causing significant property damage with a stop sign used as a battering ram. The total damages are estimated at $7,727. 72. Authorities identified Hoopes using facial recognition software linked to a distinctive gas mask seen in a photo.

An FBI agent reported that they surveilled him at his Northeast Portland home prior to the arraignment. The government did not request his detention, allowing Hoopes to remain on pretrial release. A three-day jury trial is set to begin on October 7, 2025, before Judge Adrienne Nelson. This case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding protests against federal immigration policies in Portland.