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July 31, 2023 - WASHINGTON — An Ohio man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Dean Robert Harshman, 36, of Waynesville, Ohio, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of obstruction or impeding an official proceeding. In addition to the felony, Harshman is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Harshman was arrested today in Waynesville and made his initial appearance in the Southern District of Ohio.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Harshman traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally before walking to the Capitol building. Court documents say that Harshman recorded much of his actions that day on his cell phone, and on one such video, as rioters advance past security barriers near the Peace Circle area and the Pennsylvania Walkway toward the Capitol building, Harshman can be heard shouting, “This is the stuff they ain’t gonna show you on TV!” and “We’re taking our House back!”
Harshman then made his way to the Upper West Plaza, where he stood near a line of police officers and conversed with other rioters about the police presence and the need to push past officers. Later, Harshman then entered the Capitol through the broken Senate Wing door and walked through the building, making his way to the Crypt.
Court documents say that at some point during his time in the building, Harshman entered and filmed inside an office near the Crypt. After being in the Capitol for approximately 15 minutes, Harshman returned to the Senate Wing Door and exited the building at approximately 2:35 p.m.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Cincinnati and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attachment(s): Download signed_23-mj-178_statement_of_facts_redacted
Source: DOJ Release
