Man who bragged he’d be cleared of Jan. 6 charges sentenced

homesafetytechpros — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 05:29:22 +0000

Henry Muntzer (KRTV).

A supporter of former President Donald Trump from Montana, who bragged that not only would he be cleared of charges for entering the U.S. Capitol building during the Jan. 6 riots but would be paid “a huge premium” for it, will spend two years in prison.

Henry Phillip “Hank” Muntzer, 55, learned his fate on Thursday after he was found guilty in February of obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, trespassing, disorderly conduct and picketing in the Capitol and was ordered to pay $2,000 restitution. The charge of obstructing an official proceeding was dismissed before sentencing because a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June made it more difficult to prosecute that charge, The Associated Press reported.

As Law&Crime reported in February, the defendant was a part of the “Stop the Steal” rally when rioters disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress counting the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.

Muntzer entered the Capitol that afternoon — at one point, recording a video of himself commenting that he had passed “through all the tear gas” to “tak[e] the Capitol by storm,” officials said.

Inside, Muntzer was involved in physical confrontations with law enforcement and joined a crowd of rioters confronting officers blocking a doorway leading to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace. He joined a group of rioters pushing back at officers, who had their backs to a set of stairs, officials said. At one point, Muntzer resisted police efforts to clear the Rotunda and was one of the last rioters in the area before leaving the building at 3:22 p.m., authorities said. FBI agents arrested him on Jan. 18, 2021.

Muntzer had given an interview on camera with MSNBC, confirming he was inside, court documents said. He also posted videos of himself there on Facebook. In one post, he commented: “Here’s the video when we storm the capitol and got above the guards. Then entered the capital in D.C.”

In another post that included a video inside the U.S. Capitol Building, Muntzer said, “Stormed the Capitol in Washington DC we were able to push through the Capitol police and enter several chambers. I did not see anyone get hurt other than tear gas and pepper spray, and I got sprayed a lot. We sent the message that we are not going to take it, we want our country back …”

In a video posted to YouTube on Jan. 7, 2021, Muntzer revealed he was inside the Capitol for about an hour.

Authorities said the FBI’s Washington Field Office got a call from a witness who recognized Muntzer after seeing the MSNBC News clip and his Facebook posts on Jan. 6, 2021. The tipster identified him as a resident and business owner in Dillon, Montana.

Investigators learned that in the weeks before Jan. 6, Muntzer posted to Facebook about his intention to travel to Washington for the protest.

In one typo-laden post on Dec. 20, 2020, he posted a meme showing Trump’s encouragement to attend a “wild” rally, authorities said.

“I will be going to Washington DC,” he wrote, authorities said. “Anyone that would like to join me let me know be leaving Bozeman Montana January 5 return flight the 7th.”

Two days later, he posted that he’d pay for those who could not afford the travel expenses, officials said.

“If you’re in Montana and you’d like to go to the rally I will help pay for some or all the expenses,” he wrote, officials said.

On Jan. 1, 2021, Muntzer posted he had a large group going to D.C. and would stay in a rented house.

“[F]ellow Patriots we rented a house in Washington DC if you can’t find lodging let me know there’s lots of floor space and itll be warm,” the post said.

The Montana Standard reported in September 2021 that he owned Dillon Appliance, which was emblazoned with pro-QAnon murals. His store was the gathering point for Friday night parades called the “Trump Train.”

In an interview before one parade, Muntzer told the news site he would beat the rap.

“Not only will I be cleared, they are going to pay me a huge premium for this,” he said.

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Couple who bragged they ‘fought cops’ on Jan. 6 convicted

homesafetytechpros — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 02:39:32 +0000

Mark and Jalise Middleton (Photos from court documents)

A Texas couple who bragged online they “were the first group to storm the capitol” and “fought cops” during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol were convicted this week for their roles in the insurrection.

Mark Middleton, 55, and Jalise Middleton, 54, were found guilty of multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses, including assaulting law enforcement officers, civil disorder, and obstruction of an official proceeding, authorities said in a news release.

As Law&Crime reported, In his red, white, and blue “Trump” beanie hat, red and white scarf, jacket, bluejeans, red and white Nike shoes, and gray backpack with a red logo on the back, Mark Middleton pushed against barricades and the police line with his body, authorities said.

When officers ordered him and others to “Get back!” he yelled, “f — you!” while pushing against the barricades. He also grabbed an officer’s hand and pulled the cop toward the crowd as Jalise Middleton in her red, white, and blue “Trump 2020” beanie — repeatedly grabbed and struck the officer over the barricade with her hand. She struck another officer who came up to assist his colleague, authorities said.

While committing the crimes, he posted to Facebook — “We are on the front lines,” authorities said. “We helped push down the barriers. Jalise and I got pepper sprayed, clubbed, and tear gassed. We had to retreat, but more patriots pushed forward, and they’re taking back our house. They’ve got the giant flag up on the upper terrace up there. No more fooling around! Jalise and I gotta go back to the hotel and try to recoup and change, get dry clothes on. Make America great again! Freedom!”

Jalise Middleton allegedly admitted in Facebook comments that she and her husband “fought cops,” were “on the front lines,” and ultimately got “bruised and pepper sprayed.”

The couple continued to grapple with and strike at officers and tried to pull one into the crowd as flags were jabbed toward the officers’ faces, officials said.

The couple retreated when officers sprayed mace at the crowd. They later posted social media messages touting their “key role in helping to breach the barricades by fighting officers,” officials said.

Jalise Middleton said on Facebook she and her husband “fought cops,” were “on the front lines,” and ultimately got “bruised and pepper sprayed.”

“Patriots busted through barrierers [sic] to get in Capital [sic]. Best I know there was no ‘looting or rioting,”” Jalise Middleton said on the evening of Jan. 6, officials said. “We just sent a warning that we are serious.”

“Patriots don’t stoop low like Antifa,” she went on. The fixation on Antifa continued on Jan. 7: “Patriots surged, just to show strength, Antifa went in to make ya look bad.”

They were arrested on April 21, 2021, in Forestburg, Texas, after the FBI began receiving tips from people who’d seen their Facebook posts, one of whom was described in court documents as the parent of a girl who was an acquaintance of Jalise Middleton.

In June, a judge denied their request to have their case tossed unless or until Trump in the insurrection, Washington CBS affiliate WUSA reported.

They are set to be sentenced on June 12.

Law&Crime’s Matt Naham contributed to this report.

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Man who bragged he’d be cleared of Jan. 6 charges sentenced

Couple who bragged they ‘fought cops’ on Jan. 6 convicted