A New Jersey man accused of assaulting federal officers during an anti-ICE protest outside Delaney Hall in Newark was previously convicted on a lesser charge stemming from a child pornography investigation, according to court records and federal authorities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has charged Brendan John Geier, 26, with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury. Federal officials allege that Geier kicked and bit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a protest outside the detention facility, resulting in injuries to multiple officers.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described the injuries as severe, while federal prosecutors said Geier’s actions occurred during demonstrations that took place outside Delaney Hall, a detention center that has been the focus of ongoing protests over immigration enforcement and detention conditions.
Geier’s arrest has also drawn attention because of his prior criminal case in Pennsylvania. According to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, investigators began examining Geier’s online activity in September 2018 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received information about suspected child pornography being uploaded through Skype.
Authorities traced several images to an IP address connected to Geier, who was a student at Kutztown University at the time. Investigators later executed a search and reported finding numerous suspected child pornography images on electronic devices recovered from his dorm room.
Geier was charged in March 2019 with felony offenses related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. Court records show he was released after posting bail.
The case ultimately concluded with a plea agreement. In 2021, Geier pleaded guilty to a reduced third-degree felony charge of criminal use of a communication facility. He was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18. The sentence also required him to undergo sex offender evaluation and treatment.
Federal authorities say the latest charges are unrelated to the earlier Pennsylvania case.
Geier reportedly appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais on Friday. The court ordered his release under several conditions, including location monitoring, a curfew, and a prohibition on returning to Delaney Hall while the case proceeds.
If convicted on the assault charge, Geier could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Homeland Security officials and ICE representatives have strongly condemned the alleged assault. In statements released following the arrest, officials said attacks on law enforcement officers would be prosecuted aggressively and emphasized that federal officers were carrying out lawful duties during the demonstrations.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Newark said 21 individuals were arrested for allegedly assaulting federal officers during incidents connected to protests at Delaney Hall between May 26 and May 29.
Federal authorities maintain that officers repeatedly issued lawful commands during the demonstrations and that some protesters interfered with enforcement operations. The investigation remains ongoing, and Geier is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
