A Tennessee man has been found guilty of a string of charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot, in a case that reflects the ongoing legal reckoning for those involved in the breach of federal buildings. Edward Kelley, 35, from Maryville, was convicted on three felony counts, including civil disorder, assaulting law enforcement, and destruction of government property over $1,000, as reported by the Department of Justice. Along with these, Kelley faces eight misdemeanors, including illegal entry and disorderly conduct.
The evidence presented during Kelley's bench trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, captured his participation in the violence of that day, from physically engaging with a United States Capitol Police officer to breaking through a window of the Capitol as shown in open-source videos. Despite this onslaught of charges, Kelley will not be sentenced until April 7, 2025. Kelley's arrest, which took place in May 2022, adds him to the list of over 1,561 individuals charged in connection with the events of January 6.
According to footage and trial evidence, Kelley was involved in multiple altercations and incidents within the Capitol grounds, which included using a piece of wood to breach a window and kicking open the Senate Wing Door, as described by the Department of Justice. He was inside the Capitol for approximately 40 minutes, during which he was also seen confronting Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman.
Kelley's case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, with help from the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department. The FBI is still seeking information about the events of January 6 and urges people to come forward with tips.
