After accusing lawyer of punching federal officer, government agrees to noncontact assault plea
An Oregon lawyer charged in 2025 with assaulting a federal officer has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor noncontact assault charge and was sentenced to time served with a year of supervised release.
An October 2025 press release from the U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Oregon alleged that lawyer Melanie Breeanne Rivas punched a federal protective service officer in the face during a traffic stop. The press release also alleged that the officer observed Rivas “repeatedly turning her vehicle towards his vehicle and flipping him off,” as well as continuing to break sharply.
Alison Tex Clark, Rivas’ lawyer, told the ABA Journal that her client is a criminal defense lawyer.
Rivas was incarcerated for two days following her arrest, according to a July 9 sentencing memo. According to the sentencing memo, she pleaded guilty to one noncontact misdemeanor offense for assaulting a federal officer.
Last week, the court rejected the government’s request that she complete 15 hours of community service, the Oregonian reports.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Armistead of the District of Oregon noted that Rivas focused on public defense work, according to the Oregonian.
“In my view, it’s a service already to the community. It’s demanding,” Armistead said at a July 16 hearing.
According to the Oregon State Bar, Rivas has been licensed there since 2024 and does not have a record of disciplinary sanctions.
“She will fully cooperate with any investigation by the Oregon State Bar,” Clark told the Journal. “Melanie was an excellent client, she has a bright future ahead of her, and it was an honor to represent her.”
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
_(1).jpg)
