{"id":496497,"date":"2026-10-15T02:50:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T02:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/496497\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T02:50:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T02:50:57","slug":"ice-agent-accused-of-assault-in-fresno-held-position-less-than-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/496497\/","title":{"rendered":"ICE agent accused of assault in Fresno held position less than a year"},"content":{"rendered":"

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The ICE agent accused of drunkenly attacking a 72-year-old Fresno man and his daughter made his first court appearance Wednesday, pleading not guilty to all charges.<\/p>\n

The defendant, David Gonzalez, is charged with three felony counts, including assault likely to produce great bodily injury, elder abuse and vandalism, along with a misdemeanor battery charge.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old appeared in court bound to a wheelchair as he formally entered his plea.<\/p>\n

Action News legal analyst Tony Capozzi said the case appears to be shaping up as a self-defense claim by the victims.<\/p>\n

“I think the DA and the police look at this as a self-defense case in trying to protect themselves. So the question now is: Will the federal government do something to try to protect this agent?” Capozzi said.<\/p>\n

Capozzi noted that because Gonzalez is charged with violations of California law, federal authorities cannot simply dismiss the case or issue a federal pardon.<\/p>\n

The legal analyst also pointed to Gonzalez’s choice of representation. Rather than being represented by a federal prosecutor or Department of Justice attorney, Gonzalez is being defended by local attorney Brian Andritch.<\/p>\n

“If they did, it gives the impression that he was working within the scope of his employment,” Capozzi said. “He makes that allegation, then the victims in this case have a great lawsuit to sue not only the agent but the federal government.”<\/p>\n

According to Fresno police, Gonzalez was discovered sleeping in the front yard of a central Fresno home. Investigators allege that when the homeowner confronted him, Gonzalez appeared intoxicated and became violent, assaulting the 72-year-old man and allegedly slamming him into a neighbor’s parked vehicle.<\/p>\n

“We weren’t sure what it was in the morning, but from what it looked like to us the altercation extended out to our car,” neighbor Frederick Lisitsa said.<\/p>\n

Police say Gonzalez then allegedly attacked the victim’s daughter when she attempted to intervene.<\/p>\n

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Investigators say the elderly victim, fearing for his life, armed himself and shot Gonzalez during the confrontation.<\/p>\n

Gonzalez has worked as an ICE agent for less than a year. Prior to joining the federal agency in December, he worked as a deputy with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office in Texas.<\/p>\n

He joined the department as a detention officer in 2017 before becoming a deputy in 2022.<\/p>\n

Gonzalez left the department for his federal immigration position in December of 2025.<\/p>\n

In court Wednesday, attorney Brian Andritch indicated Gonzalez is expected to post bond, which has been set at $37,000. If released, he will be required to remain in California while the case proceeds.<\/p>\n

Action News reached out to ICE regarding Gonzalez’s employment status and was referred to the Department of Homeland Security. A response had not been received as of Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n

Gonzalez is scheduled to return to court next week.<\/p>\n

For news updates, follow Vincent Camarillo on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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