Militia group 'commander' Larry Mitchell Hopkins attacked in New Mexico jail

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The "commander" of a militia group that patrolled the U.S.-Mexico border was attacked in a New Mexico jail, officials said Wednesday.

Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, who also goes by the name Johnny Horton Jr., leads the United Constitutional Patriots from his home in northern New Mexico.

The FBI arrested Hopkins on Saturday in Sunland Park on a federal charge that he is a convicted felon in possession of guns. He was being held at the Doña Ana County Detention Center in Las Cruces at the time of the attack.

Officials said they're investigating an assault on Hopkins that occurred after 9 p.m. Monday, but they provided few details.

Hopkins had his first court appearance Monday afternoon, and a complaint revealed that the FBI suspected him of making assassination threats against former President Barack Obama, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and billionaire activist George Soros.

"Hopkins was given medical attention for non life-threatening injuries," according to a Doña Ana County news release. "He was transferred out of the Doña Ana County Detention Center under the direction of the U.S. Marshals Service on Tuesday."

Officials have not released the names of the person or people suspected of attacking Hopkins.

On Tuesday, members of his militia group were evicted from their campsite in Sunland Park.

More: FBI arrests member of armed civilian group that detained migrants

More: Armed militia group that detained migrants kicked out of their New Mexico camp

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Militia group 'commander' Larry Mitchell Hopkins attacked in New Mexico jail