Posted Mar 14, 2012, 11:26 am

Janet Rose Jackman TucsonSentinel.com

A 24-year-old Nicaraguan man was sentenced Friday to 51 months in prison for trying to illegally re-enter the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

Jose Manuel Lopez, of Managua, was apprehended by Casa Grande Station Border Patrol agents in August near South Komelik in the West Desert, the Border Patrol said.

During processing, agents discovered Lopez was convicted in 2011 of felony assault in Los Angeles County. The case was then turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution for re-entry of a felon, the Border Patrol said.

After serving his sentence, Lopez will be formally removed and banned for life from all legalization processes, the Border Patrol said.

One Old Vet

Felon gets 51 months for illegal re-entry into U.S.