Man sentenced to prison in freeway shooting involving off-duty Border Patrol agent

A man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a shooting targeting an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent's vehicle on Interstate 10 last year.

Raul Beltran received a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of engaging in organized criminal activity-aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.

Beltran was one of three men allegedly attacked an off-duty agent they had mistaken for a man who had beaten up a friend, according to court documents.

By being arrested in connection with the shooting, Beltran violated his probation in a 2014 burglary of habitation case — and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for that violation.

The sentences, which will be served concurrently, were handed down Thursday by 243rd District Court Judge Luis Aguilar.

Beltran was arrested with two other men after they allegedly followed U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jaime Lopez from his home and fired at the agent’s vehicle on Oct. 25 on I-10 near Eastlake Boulevard, El Paso County Sheriff's Office officials said at the time of the incident.

Lopez’s vehicle was struck by bullet three times on the driver's side doors, officials said.

The other men arrested were Sebastian Adrian Aldaz and Rafael Roberto Valenzuela.

Valenzuela was arrested Oct. 28, while Beltran was arrested Oct. 30. Aldaz was arrested the same day as the shooting in an unrelated burglary case.

According to testimony, Beltran was driving the vehicle when Aldaz allegedly shot at Lopez’s vehicle.

Aldaz and Valenzuela were also arrested on engaging in organized criminal activity-aggravated assault charges. Their cases are still pending in district court.

Aldaz was arrested the same night of the shooting on suspicion of burglary of habitation with intent to commit a felony, unlawful carrying of a weapon, and possession of less than two ounces of marijuana.

He was allegedly part of a group found with two handguns, a Playstation 3 and a small plastic bag with less than an ounce of marijuana allegedly stolen in a "drug rip" on the night of the shooting.

This case is also pending in district court.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinez31 on Twitter.

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