WASHINGTON, DC — A man from Colorado Springs has pleaded guilty to assaulting a law enforcement officer during the Jan. 6, 2021 breach at the U.S. Capitol.
Jonathan David Grace, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. He is set for sentencing on Jan. 30, 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Based on court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Grace marched to the U.S. Capitol and joined a group of rioters who were trying to push past law enforcement officers in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel entrance to the building. The DOJ said at 3:12 p.m., Grace entered that tunnel and worked his way into the mob inside the tunnel. He used his body weight to push in unison with others against the police officers, the DOJ said. During this, an officer was heard screaming in pain as he was smashed between a shield and metal door frame, according to court documents.
Officers gained control in the tunnel and forced the rioters, including Grave, to exit, though he remained near the tunnel and was able to re-enter around 3:15 p.m. He started to move against law enforcement officers and yelled commands to push.
The mob kept pushing until about 3:18 p.m., when police were again able to get them out of the tunnel. Grace stayed near the mouth of the tunnel as rioters violently went after police. He also "watched close by as rioters dragged a Metropolitan Police Department officer out of the Tunnel and attacked him," the DOJ said.
About 20 minutes after Grace was pushed out of the tunnel, he joined other rioters to push against the police line. He was near the front of the mob and fought with officers, the DOJ said.
"He held onto the tunnel archway, turned his back to the officers, and resisted the officers’ pushing," the DOJ said. "Grace also forcefully pushed into the officers, making physical contact with the officers as he assaulted them."
He retreated after he was sprayed with a chemical irritant.
Grace was arrested in Denver on March 30, 2023.
He was later identified as #233 in the FBI's seeking information photos.
The DOJ reported that in the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 people have been charged for crimes in connection with the breach.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Colorado people involved on Jan. 6, 2021 who are facing federal charges or have been sentenced:
- Todd Branden Casey of Denver wasarrested on Aug. 30 in Georgetown, Colorado. He faces felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, plus multiple misdemeanor charges.
- Jacob Clark of Trinidad was arrested in April 2021 on multiple charges in connection to the Jan. 6 riot. He demanded police officers to stand down during the attack.
- Glen Wes Lee Croy, of Colorado Springs, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing inside the Capitol in August 2021. He was sentenced in November to 90 days of house arrest along with 14 days in a community correctional facility. He called himself an idiot.
- Tyler Earl Ethridge of Colorado Springs was arrested in July 2022 in Denver and faces six federal charges for his participation in the riot. He is a pastor who graduated from Charis Bible College in Woodland Park.
- Robert Gieswein of Woodland Park was arrested and faced multiple charges in January 2021 in connection to the Jan. 6 riot, including assault on an officer "with a spray canister, temporary barrier, and baseball bat," according to his arrest affidavit. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge in early March 2023. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
- Jonathan David Grace of Colorado Springs was arrested on March 30, 2023 on felony and misdemeanor charges. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2023 to assaulting a law enforcement officer. He is set for sentencing on Jan. 30, 2024.
- Logan Grover of Erie was charged in April 2021 with disruptive conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds, and demonstrating in a capitol building. He pleaded guilty in July 2022. He served in the Army Reserve for nearly 10 years and was deployed to Iraq, according to The Denver Post. He was sentenced to a month of house arrest and two years' probation in February 2023.
- Thomas Patrick Hamner of Peyton was arrested and charged in November 2021. Videos allegedly showed him fighting with Capitol and Metropolitan Police. In September 2022, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
- Lisa Ann Homer of Colorado Springs was arrested in November 2021 in Colorado Springs. She faces charges of illegally entering the capitol, disorderly and disruptive conduct on capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building. She was sentenced to three years' probation, 60 hours of community service, a $5,000 fine and $500 restitution.
- Jennifer Horvath of Colorado Springs was arrested and charged in May 2022 on multiple federal charges. She was located after FBI agents linked her to her boyfriend Glen Wes Lee Croy (listed above), who was also arrested, charged and sentenced for his involvement. She was sentenced in November 2022 to 36 months of probation, including 90 days of home confinement and 14 days at a residential facility, plus a $500 restitution.
- Klete Keller, an Olympian from Colorado Springs, pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding after storming the U.S. Capitol in September 2021. He faces 21 to 27 months in prison. His sentencing date is TBD.
- Avery Carter MacCracken of San Miguel County was charged in December 2021 with assaulting officers in the Jan. 6 riot. He was arrested in Norwood on six federal charges. He was captured on videos and in photos fighting with U.S. Capitol Police officers. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing a law enforcement officer on Oct. 20, 2023.
- Patrick Montgomery of Douglas County was charged in January 2021 with knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. According to an affidavit for his arrest, federal investigators were tipped off by someone who saw Montgomery in photos from inside the Capitol posted to Facebook. He pleaded not guilty.
- Daniel Michael Morrissey was charged in federal court in November 2021 for illegally entering the U.S. Capitol. He pleaded guilty to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and was sentenced to 45 days of incarceration and 26 months of probation in mid-August.
- Hunter Palm of Colorado Springs was arrested in May 2021 after he allegedly entered U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Jan. 6. He was identified to federal investigators by a family member. He was arrested in May 2021 and indicted the following month. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
- Jeffrey Sabol of Jefferson County is accused of dragging a police officer down steps to be beaten by an American flag outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. A federal judge denied him bail in April 2021. After the attack, prosecutors said he tried to fly to Switzerland.
- Timothy Williams of Trinidad was charged in June 2021 with multiple federal crimes. FBI agents found Williams on videos of the rioters inside the Capitol that day.
