A Washington State man was taken into custody on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Thomas Hodo, a 47-year-old from Snohomish, Washington, is facing a felony civil disorder charge, along with several misdemeanors that include entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct.
Hodo was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday and appeared in court in the District of Arizona. His co-defendant, Derek Noftsger, had already been charged for his participation in the events of January 6. According to court filings, Hodo and Noftsger were identified from open-source videos at the scene, engaging with police officers and attempting to remove barricades.
FBI agents arrested the suspect based on alleged activities including using a megaphone to address a crowd and throwing an object at police officers. In his amplified declaration, Hodo is quoted as stating, "it is our constitutional duty, we have to stand up to a tyrannical government, we are not supposed to secede to a tyrannical government," followed by a direct threat towards perceived traitors and an expression of betrayal toward the law enforcement present, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
The Justice Department's press release further alleges that Hodo attempted to use a pepper spray canister on police officers and uttered threats about future violence. The aforementioned escalation resulted in Hodo and Noftsger in climbing onto scaffolding and later making proclamations from an unfurled flag.
In the 43 months since the breach, over 1,488 individuals across the United States have been charged for related crimes, with approximately 550 facing charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The FBI continues its investigation, urging the public to offer any additional tips through their hotline or online submission form. Hodo, like all defendants, remains presumed innocent until any conviction proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is reached.
