A Pennsylvania man has received a 48-month prison sentence for his role in the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Joshua Lee Atwood, a 31-year-old from Burgettstown, was convicted of assaulting law enforcement with a weapon during the chaos that unfolded when supporters of the then-president sought to disrupt the electoral vote certification.
Atwood, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge had traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the "Stop the Steal" rally. After the event, he joined the mob that stormed the Capitol, attacking police officers with a variety of objects. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Atwood used a metal pole, a plastic bottle, a canister of pepper spray, and even a police riot shield to assault officers at the scene.
U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss also imposed a 36-month term of supervised release and ordered Atwood to pay $2,000 in restitution. The violent encounters, particularly at the Lower West Terrace Tunnel where Atwood was active, marked some of the most severe clashes between rioters and law enforcement on that day. Evidence showed that at one point, Atwood struck an officer's helmet with a wooden pole and hurled a baseball bat and other items at the police line.
Atwood was arrested by the FBI on April 17, 2024, after being identified as BOLO #229 on the FBI's list of individuals involved in the Capitol breach. The case was investigated by the FBI's Pittsburgh and Washington Field Offices, with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. In the 47 months since the attack on the Capitol, the Department of Justice has charged more than 1,572 individuals, in various states across the country, with crimes related to the incident – over 590 of them have been charged with assaults or other acts of impediment against law enforcement, which is a felony.
The Department of Justice continues to pursue investigations and urges the public to provide any relevant information. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or through the FBI's tips website.
