Carson man gets 8 years in federal prison for trying to run over U.S. marshal

A Carson man was sentenced Monday to spend eight years in federal prison for trying to run over a U.S. deputy marshal who had to shoot at him and jump out of the way of his minivan to avoid being killed.

Kevin Leon Smith, 47, leaed his fate in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for the March 11, 2015 confrontation that resulted in an officer-involved shooting in the 300 block of East 220th Street in Carson.

A federal jury in January convicted Smith of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon.

The crime occurred when six deputy U.S. marshals went looking for Smith at a residence on East 220th Street in Carson. Smith had served seven years in federal prison for manufacturing methamphetamine.

Violated terms

According to prosecutors’ sentencing memorandum, Smith was sought for arrest since 2013 for violating the terms of his supervised release from custody, including testing positive for methamphetamine and missing drug tests and substance abuse treatment appointments.

The marshals were watching as Smith got into a Toyota Siea and pulled out of a driveway. They followed him in several cars, pulling in front of him to block his path. Smith tried to accelerate in reverse, but stopped abruptly.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Bradley Beeler got out and yelled at Smith to stop.

Smith, prosecutors said, suddenly sped toward Beelever, revving his engine and causing his tires to screech.

“When Deputy Beeler realized that the van was moving quickly in his direction, he instinctively moved backward and fired four shots directly at directly at (Smith’s) windshield. In the process, Deputy Beeler tripped backward and fell to the ground.”

Raced toward marshal

Smith stopped briefly when shots hit the windshield, but then raced toward Beeler. Beeler jumped to his feet and fired three or four shots as he lunged out of the way.

Smith sped off. He was arrested the next day, telling deputies he did not want to go back to prison.

The U.S. Attoey’s Office sought a sentence of at least nine years. The defense sought a sentence of less than five.

Judge Gary Klausner imposed the sentence.

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