Suspect connected to Nassau County deputy's death illegally reentered US days ago

The man accused of fleeing Border Patrol in Yulee, leading to the death of a Nassau County Deputy who pursued, will be held in federal custody at least through Monday.

Since Tuesday, we've been following this string of events, which started with Border Patrol questioning several men in a pick-up truck at a gas station off State Road 200. Investigators say 26-year-old Francisco Obidio Portillo-Fuentes ran off, and two NCSO deputies on the scene for a different call followed him. Deputy Eric Oliver was hit by an SUV during the chase and died on the scene.

Portillo-Fuentes was tracked down in Jacksonville Tuesday night and is being held on a federal charge of illegally reentering the United States.

He made his first appearance in federal court Wednesday, telling the court through an interpreter that he is married with three children. Court records also show Portillo-Fuentes is from El Salvador, not Guatemala as initially reported by investigators. He will continue to be held pending a detention hearing Monday.

The criminal complaint against Portillo-Fuentes says he admits to coming in to the US on or around November 19th by wading across the Rio Grande near Laredo, TX. The complaint also confirms Portillo-Fuentes has been deported twice before, once in November 2011 and once on September 28, 2016. Court records further say Portillo-Fuentes admits to never trying to gain permission to legally enter the US.

If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Duval County Court records show Portillo-Fuentes was no stranger to the area in between deportations. In May 2016 he was arrested for DUI and other charges. In August, he pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and was given credit for the 92 days he served in jail and sentenced to a year of probation. Court records show he violated probation and was called back to court in October- which is in between his September deportation and most recent arrival in the country.

He was also cited in November 2013 for not having a driver’s license and December 2013 for open container and a tag violation.