Phoenix Man Sentenced To 33 Months In Federal Prison For Assaults On Grand Canyon Rangers

PHOENIX – On Feb. 4, 2013, Anthony Keith Swint, 43, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to 33 months in federal prison.  Swint was found guilty by a federal jury in Prescott, Ariz. on Sept. 28, 2012, of two counts of assault on a federal officer.  

Swint was driving a tractor-trailer that got stuck near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, near the Bright Angel Trial. Swint caused a disturbance with Xanterra employees who were trying to help him unlock his brakes and get back on the road.  The employees called park rangers to assist them, and Swint’s anger escalated as he cursed at the rangers and ignored their orders for him to stay in the cab.  As the rangers were trying to detain Swint, he kicked one ranger, causing the ranger to fall to the ground.  Later, as several rangers were escorting Swint into a booking facility, he bit a ranger’s hand.  Evidence at trial showed that Swint had a lengthy criminal history, which included a prior incident of assault in Michigan in 2004.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the National Park Service.  The prosecution was handled by Jennifer E. Green and Tracy Van Buskirk, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-12-8080-PCT-PGR  
RELEASE NUMBER:     2013-013_Swint

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/