HOUSTON, TEXAS — Hugo Balderras-Ibarra was indicted in February 2026 on a felony assault charge alleging he impeded a woman’s breathing during an airport incident on May 30, 2024. The charge stems from a family violence case filed in Harris County, where prosecutors accuse him of committing felony assault by restricting the woman’s ability to breathe.

According to a police affidavit, Balderras-Ibarra threw the woman’s luggage to the ground and grabbed her by the neck at an airport on May 30, 2024. The woman alleged he squeezed and twisted her throat, preventing her from breathing for several seconds. Officers documented redness and swelling on her neck in photographs taken that same day.

The woman later identified Balderras-Ibarra using his Texas driver’s license photo, according to Harris County court records. Balderras-Ibarra, an immigration attorney, has represented clients including Daniel Tirado Pantoja and José Trinidad Rojas Pliego, who are detained at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe.

Balderras-Ibarra has held a license to practice law in Texas since January 2025 and currently holds a probationary license, according to the Texas State Bar website. His criminal history includes a 2008 conviction in Iowa for second-degree burglary and a 2009 conviction in the same state for domestic assault.

Responding to the indictment, Balderras-Ibarra stated, “I maintain my innocence and believe the focus should continue to be on my clients, rather than shifting focus onto me. Don’t lose focus!”

Why It Matters

The case involves serious allegations of family violence with physical evidence documented by law enforcement, and it concerns a licensed attorney whose prior convictions in Iowa may factor into professional consequences. Balderras-Ibarra’s assertion that attention should remain on his detained clients introduces a legal and ethical dimension regarding attorney conduct and public focus during active criminal proceedings.