Biography
Robert Chavez Cortez was arrested in Anaheim, California, on November 6, 2025, during an encounter in which people filmed and shouted at Border Patrol agents. An agent alleged that Cortez spat on him; Cortez initially told investigators that he was only recording and denied spitting. He was detained pending trial. On December 5, 2025, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault on a federal officer and was sentenced to time served and six months of supervised release. His supervision conditions restricted approaching federal buildings or working federal officers to protest without permission. In January 2026, the court approved an agreed residential reentry placement of no more than 180 days because he lacked housing. That placement was a supervision condition, not a new 180-day prison sentence.
