Houston Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years for Assaulting Federal Officer and Damaging Buildings

Justin Wade Prophet, a 38-year-old resident of Houston, has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a federal officer and damaging downtown buildings, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Prophet had pleaded guilty to the charges on March 25. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who acknowledged Prophet’s difficult upbringing and mental health challenges but emphasized the seriousness of the offenses committed.

The incident occurred on October 26, 2023, when Prophet used a long metal pole to break windows at the federal courthouse and another nearby building. After gaining entry into the second building, he attempted to assault an individual and caused further damage.

Federal courthouse authorities confronted Prophet, leading to a physical altercation where Prophet struck an officer with the pole. In response, the officer discharged their weapon, injuring Prophet in the lower body. Prophet was promptly taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment.

Prophet will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Service and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barri Dean handled the sentencing proceedings.