A Missouri man, Christopher Brian Roe, has been handed a 70-month prison term for his role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The 39-year-old from Raytown, Missouri, was also sentenced to serve 24 months of supervised release and to pay $2,000 in restitution, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Roe pleaded guilty to assaulting and impeding officers after he was found to have engaged in a violent altercation with law enforcement during the chaos of the Capitol siege. The court documents reveal Roe came prepared to the "Stop the Steal" rally with a metal-tipped pitchfork, duct tape, and zip ties. In an attempt to successfully make his way through the crowd and police barricades, Roe also brought along a six-inch knife.
The incident unfolded when Roe clashed with police at the West Plaza, refusing to relinquish his pitchfork and continuously pushing toward the frontlines where officers stood guard. After a bout with a chemical irritant, Roe managed to enter the Capitol building, where he proceeded to tangle with officers again, at one point seizing an officer's baton.
Roe's disruptive actions continued as he was expelled from the Capitol, only to reenter and resume his attempts to breach police lines. He was finally arrested by the FBI on July 18, 2023, a significant time after his initial participation in the riot. His arrest was a collaboration between the FBI's Kansas City and Washington Field Offices, with support from U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The Justice Department's announcement notes that since the January 6 breach, over 1,313 individuals have been charged, out of which more than 469 face felonies for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. This case is one among many as authorities continue to prosecute those involved in the Capitol breach.
