Illegal immigrant convicted of child sex crimes in WA charged with assaulting ICE agents

An illegal immigrant with a prior conviction for child molestation has been arrested and charged with assaulting two federal immigration officers who attempted to detain him last month, federal authorities announced.

Victor Martin Lara-Lopez, 41, is facing two counts of assault on a federal officer after allegedly using his vehicle to flee an attempted arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Pasco, Washington, on June 13, 2025.

According to federal court documents, ICE Deportation Officers were attempting to detain Lara-Lopez on an administrative warrant for immigration violations when they spotted him driving a Ford F-350 truck. Agents used two vehicles to block him in, activating emergency lights and approaching his driver's side window while wearing marked ballistic vests labeled “POLICE.”

Lara-Lopez partially rolled down his window but refused to identify himself or turn off the vehicle. When officers attempted to physically stop him from fleeing, he allegedly reversed and then accelerated forward, nearly crushing both agents between vehicles. Lara-Lopez struck one of the ICE vehicles before speeding away, authorities said.

One officer sustained bruises to the arm; the other reported shoulder pain and limited mobility following the altercation. That same day, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Lara-Lopez. However, he remained at large for nearly a month.

At the time of the incident, Lara-Lopez was under active supervision by the Washington State Department of Corrections following a 2022 conviction for Child Molestation in the Second Degree with Aggravating Circumstances of Position of Trust. He had been sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and was barred from contact with minors. The DOC issued a separate warrant after Lara-Lopez failed to report to his Community Corrections Officer.

On July 15, law enforcement spotted the same F-350 truck on Highway 12 between Walla Walla and Pasco. When officers conducted a traffic stop, a woman and a juvenile exited the vehicle. Lara-Lopez, who was also inside, refused to come out until he was informed a K9 unit was en route. He was then arrested without further incident.

“Every day, law enforcement officers in this district go to work to protect our community,” said Acting US Attorney Stephanie Van Marter. “Often, they must contact individuals with serious criminal histories who do not want to be apprehended and present a danger to our community. It is not uncommon for law enforcement to be assaulted in the course of doing the job, which is not lawful and should never be acceptable. My office will continue to hold those accountable who use violence in attempt to avoid arrest.”