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November 2, 2023 - WASHINGTON — A Missouri man pleaded guilty today to three felony 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.
Christopher Brian Roe, 39, of Raytown, Missouri, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to three felony counts of assaulting, resisting, and impeding certain officers. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly accepted the plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 5, 2024.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Roe attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., carrying, among other items, a pitchfork, zip ties, and duct tape. After the rally, Roe went to the west front of the U.S. Capitol building and approached a police line with the pitchfork in hand. Court documents say that Roe then pushed a police officer and wrapped his arm around the officer’s arm. Other officers then sprayed Roe with a chemical irritant, causing him to retreat from the police line.
Roe later moved to the Upper West Terrace, where he entered the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol. Roe moved through the Capitol for approximately 15 minutes when law enforcement officers attempted to remove Roe and other rioters from the building. Roe shoved one of these officers several feet backward and wrapped his arm around the officer’s baton. Roe was then expelled from the building; however, court documents say that Roe reentered the building through the East Rotunda Doors with another mob and further clashed with police.
According to court documents, Roe was again removed from the Capitol only to attempt to regain entry a third time on the north side. Here, Roe rammed a bicycle rack approximately ten times against a set of doors leading into the building.
Roe was arrested at his home on July 18, 2023.
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 Western District of Missouri.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
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.
Source: DOJ Release
