United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon
09/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/03/2026 16:02
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Assault of a Federal Employee
PORTLAND, Ore.-A Portland man pleaded guilty today for assaulting a federal employee at Pioneer Courthouse.
Jett Avery Thomas, 42, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, on the morning of July 3, 2023, Thomas threw an object at the Pioneer Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland. After a court security officer attempted to address him, Thomas climbed over the fence and charged up the front steps of the courthouse. The officer retreated into the courthouse and attempted to secure the door behind him. Before he could do so, Thomas grabbed the door, forced it open, and assaulted the officer by punching him in the head. The struggle continued outside the door, where Thomas continued assaulting the officer, striking him with a hard object and placing him in a chokehold. The officer accessed his service weapon and fired two shots into Thomas' torso.
Thomas was arrested, provided first aid, and transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The officer was also transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
On August 1, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 3-count indictment charging Thomas with aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact.
Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
He will be sentenced on December 16, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
This case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the Federal Protective Service and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon published this content on September 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 03, 2026 at 22:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]