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A man who struck his son-in-law's convicted killer inside a Maricopa County courtroom this week now faces criminal exposure that could affect his immigration status. After delivering an emotional victim statement, Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez walked back toward the gallery and punched Abel Uribe "four or five times." Authorities charged him with aggravated assault for attacking someone who was restrained, along with counts for fighting in the courtroom and obstructing a judicial proceeding. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office recused itself and Gila County agreed to review the case. This account was first reported by AZ Family.
I am asking for the gentleman who did this. For him to be in jail for life.
Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez
Key takeaways
- The assault: Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez struck Abel Uribe “four or five times” in a Phoenix sentencing hearing, according to the courtroom video.
- Charges and transfer: Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez is accused of aggravated assault against a bound or restrained person, fighting in a courtroom, and obstructing a judicial proceeding; Gila County will assess whether to prosecute.
- Release status: Ontiveros-Sanchez appeared before a judge and was released on his own recognizance.
- Immigration risk: Defense attorney Russ Richelsoph said a conviction for an aggravated felony could make Ontiveros-Sanchez, a permanent legal resident, immediately deportable.
Table of contents
What happened in the courtroom and who was involved
The incident occurred during the sentencing hearing for Abel Uribe, who is being sentenced to life in prison for the murder of David Navidad-Parra, a West Point graduate and Army veteran. After making an emotional statement asking for life in prison for the killer, Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez turned and struck Uribe “four or five times” as he walked back toward the gallery. The judge interrupted the proceeding, saying “Counsel, counsel, take your folks outside. Everyone outside. Outside. Get out,” a line captured on the sentencing video.
A Maricopa County Attorney’s Office spokesperson said the office was conflicted off the case and that Gila County agreed to review whether to prosecute. Arizona’s Family tried to speak with Ontiveros-Sanchez and instead spoke with his son, who said his father “regrets doing what he did.” The victim named at sentencing, David Navidad-Parra, and the defendant in the underlying murder case, Abel Uribe, are both identified in court filings and prior coverage.
Charges, the county review and immediate court outcome
Gila County prosecutors must decide whether to bring charges and, if so, what level to pursue. Court filings list counts including aggravated assault of a person who was bound or restrained, plus fighting in a courtroom and obstructing a judicial proceeding. A Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesperson said that office recused itself because of a conflict and referred the review to Gila County.
Ontiveros-Sanchez appeared before a judge on Thursday morning and was released on his own recognizance. The procedural path now is charging, potential indictment, and then either arraignment or declination; each step will be handled by Gila County if it elects to prosecute. Defense and prosecution will argue facts such as whether the victim was restrained and whether the assault meets the statutory elements that elevate a misdemeanor to a felony.
How a conviction could affect immigration status
Russ Richelsoph, a criminal defense attorney not involved in the matter, said prosecutors could upgrade the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony if they classify the assault on a restrained person as aggravated. He warned that an aggravated felony conviction can render a noncitizen immediately deportable under U.S. immigration law. Court filings identify Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez as a permanent legal resident, and Richelsoph said that status would affect removal proceedings and any future naturalization or renewal applications.
If the charge is downgraded to a misdemeanor, Richelsoph said it would not trigger automatic deportation but could complicate immigration paperwork and discretionary decisions. The family statement quoted in court materials asks for privacy while grieving, underscoring the emotional context prosecutors and immigration authorities may consider when assessing charges or relief options.
| Person | Role | Status in material |
|---|---|---|
| Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez | Assailant and victim’s father-in-law | Charged; released on own recognizance |
| Abel Uribe | Defendant being sentenced for murder | Facing life sentence |
| David Navidad-Parra | Victim | West Point graduate and Army veteran; deceased |
| Russ Richelsoph | Criminal defense attorney (not on the case) | Quoted on immigration risk |
How the case could develop
The case for
- Gila County could decline to prosecute or file misdemeanor charges, which would reduce the risk of deportation for Ontiveros-Sanchez.
- Prosecutors might accept a plea to a lesser offense that avoids an aggravated-felony conviction and its immigration consequences.
The case against
- Gila County could file aggravated-assault charges that meet the elements of an aggravated felony and trigger removal proceedings.
- A felony conviction would likely bar relief under many immigration remedies and could make Ontiveros-Sanchez immediately deportable.
What to be careful about
- If Gila County files aggravated-assault charges that qualify as an aggravated felony, Ontiveros-Sanchez could face immediate deportation.
- A public courtroom video and media coverage could influence jury pools or prosecutorial charging decisions in Gila County.
- Delay in charging may prolong uncertainty for the defendant and his family, complicating both criminal and immigration strategy.
The bottom line
The punches caught on the sentencing video created an immediate criminal response and a separate immigration risk because the assault was on a person in a courtroom context. With Maricopa County recused and Gila County reviewing the matter, the pivotal questions are what charges, if any, Gila County files and whether those charges meet the statutory elements of an aggravated felony under immigration law. The family’s loss and the emotional context are evident in court footage and statements; the legal consequences will turn on charging choices and any plea or trial outcomes made in Gila County.
What to watch
- Watch for a Gila County charging decision; no date has been set.
- Watch whether Gila County files aggravated-assault counts that could be treated as an aggravated felony; no date has been set.
Frequently asked questions
What charges is Ontiveros-Sanchez facing?
Court records say Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez is charged with aggravated assault against someone who was bound or restrained, as well as fighting in a courtroom and obstructing a judicial proceeding; Gila County will determine whether to prosecute those counts.
Why did the case move from Maricopa County to Gila County?
A Maricopa County Attorney’s Office spokesperson said the office was conflicted off the case, and Gila County agreed to review it — that transfer shifts the charging decision to Gila County.
Could this courtroom assault lead to deportation?
Russ Richelsoph said a conviction for an aggravated felony could make Alberto Ontiveros-Sanchez—who court filings identify as a permanent legal resident—immediately deportable; by contrast, a misdemeanor conviction would not automatically trigger removal but could complicate later immigration renewals.
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