Canadian national charged with assaulting detention center officer

HOUSTON - A 26-year-old woman has been arrested for forcibly assaulting a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Grace Kirkness has now made her initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo.

According to the criminal complaint filed March 2, Kirkness was being held at the Houston Contract Detention Facility in Houston pending her removal to Canada.

On Jan. 21, Kirkness allegedly refused to follow orders from contract detention officers at the facility. When authorities attempted to place her in handcuffs, she allegedly punched, kicked, and bit an officer, according to the charges.

If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.