Man who said he’d ‘shoot a cop’ sentenced in Fresno for assaulting Yosemite ranger
A Wisconsin man “trying to escape society” who struck a Yosemite National Park ranger two years ago was sentenced to supervised release Monday at the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse in Fresno.
Michael Anthony Valencia, 32, of Appleton was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to three years of supervised release for assault of a federal officer, interfering with a government employee engaged in official duties and camping without a permit, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Valencia suffered from mental health issues and spent most of his time while detained under the supervision of hospital staffers, according to Mark Broughton, his attorney.
He said Valencia was in a better place than the time before he was arrested, saying his mental illness was a major factor in his crime.
“It’s a sad commentary on the lack of resources available for the homeless and those suffering from mental illness,” Broughton told The Bee on Monday.
Valencia in June and July 2024 began misusing the 911 emergency system in the national park in Central California in an attempt to harass rangers and dispatchers, according to prosecutors. His calls were not emergency calls.
The ranger who was assaulted and other law enforcement officers went on July 22, 2024, to the camp where Valencia was camping illegally under tarps, according to court records. They tracked the calls to the area, and Valencia did not have a permit to camp, according to court records.
They found him relieving himself about 50 feet from his campsite near a downed tree before announcing their presence, according to court records.
Valencia told the officers “if I had a gun, I would shoot you right now,” before the officer grabbed Valencia’s arm and told him he was being detained, records said. Valencia then struck the officer in the face, which led to the officer needing three stitches to his upper lip and causing damage to a tooth.
A dispatcher said Valencia had previously said he would “shoot a cop and go to prison” on a phone call, records said. Valencia’s mother also told investigators, he was “trying to escape society” by camping in the park.
Valencia had been in custody since his arrest in July 2024, and pleaded guilty on March 23.
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 1:12 PM.
