Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay 

Defendant Hit Capitol Police Officer with Wooden 2x4 Plank 

October 28, 2023 – WASHINGTON – A Colorado man was sentenced on Friday on felony and misdemeanor charges for 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 2020 presidential election.

Jacob Travis Clark, 34, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. Clark was found guilty of one felony and five misdemeanors following a Jan. 30, 2023, bench trial before Judge Friedrich in the District of Columbia.

Clark was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony offense, and misdemeanor offenses of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. All misdemeanor offenses.

Clark's criminal conduct on January 6 was captured in his text messages, surveillance videos of him entering and remaining in the Capitol building, and other evidence of his threatening behavior towards officers while inside the building.

According to court documents, Clark anticipated violence well before January 6. In one of his text messages, he stated that he anticipated January 6 to be a "revolt." According to Clark, "They are going into D.C. and bringing guns. Which isn't allowed in D.C. They aren't gonna let Biden win." Court documents say that Clark intended to go to Washington D.C. on January 6 and "be a part of history."

On Jan. 5, 2021, Clark drove from his home in Colorado to Washington, D.C. The next day, Clark attended the rally at the Ellipse, during which he anticipated violence, as he texted his father, "It's a trump thing I'm here for the riots when they say he isn't the winner lol."

After the rally, Clark walked to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol grounds and joined the mob, forcing their way through the barricades. On the grounds, he continued to text his friends, "We are gonna storm the capital." At 2:14 p.m., Clark was among the first to enter the U.S. Capitol building through the Senate Wing doors.

Inside the Capitol, Clark went onto the second floor, onto the third floor, inside the Rotunda, and walked through multiple hallways. Clark continued to send texts stating, "yeah I'm in the capitol (sic) building" and "we stormed it and busted the door down." He claimed to be the first rioter to enter the Senate Chambers.

Clark was then observed walking down the hallway from the Senate Wing Door toward the Crypt holding a 2x4 wooden plank. Moments later, a U.S. Capitol Police Officer (USCP) was hit with the wooden 2x4 plank, which forced the officer to retreat into the Crypt in visible pain. Clark later joined a crowd of rioters, pointed at police, and threatened them. The mob forced the police to retreat, and Clark proceeded deeper into the building.

At approximately 2:41 p.m., USCP officers attempted to close and lock the Senate Gallery doors. While they did so, Clark and other rioters confronted the officers. Although Clark made no contact with the officers, he was a part of the mob that pushed and hit officers who were forced to retreat before one of the doors could be locked.

At about 3:53 p.m., Clark left the Capitol through the Senate Carriage door after spending nearly 40 minutes inside. Clark continued to brag via text messages about his unlawful escapade, sending pictures and saying, "I helped break down the door," "I was the first one in the chamber," "We took the whole thing. They had to evacuate." Clark later wrote of his actions on January 6th to a friend, stating, "We do it everyday they try to vote."

The FBI arrested Clark on Apr. 21, 2021, in Colorado Springs.

This case was 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 District of Colorado.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Denver and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.