Former Virginia police officer convicted in January 6 Capitol attack case News
© WikiMedia Commons (Tyler Merbler)
Former Virginia police officer convicted in January 6 Capitol attack case

A jury for the US District Court for the District of Columbia Monday convicted former Mount Rocky police officer Thomas Robertson on all charges related to the January 6 Capitol attack. The unanimous decision came after a day and a half of deliberations.

The jury found Robertson guilty of five felonies: obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building while carrying a dangerous weapon and tampering with a document or proceedings. In addition, the jury found Robertson guilty of the misdemeanor offense of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

Jacob Fracker, a co-defendant and former Rocky Mount officer, pleaded guilty on March 18 to a conspiracy charge.

According to court documents, the officers were off duty when they headed to DC in Robertson’s car on January 6. Both brought their police identification badges and firearms but left them in the vehicle when they arrived in the DC area. They went to the Washington Monument area, attended a rally and then headed to the Capitol, where a mob was gathering. Both donned gas masks and approached the Capitol, where they joined an advancing group of rioters. Robertson carried a large wooden stick and confronted the Metropolitan Police Department members, who had arrived to provide back-up to US Capitol Police officers defending the Capitol from the mob.

The officers entered the Capitol. They met up inside the Capitol’s Crypt, where they took a selfie of themselves in front of a statue. Both officers used their mobile phones to take photos and video footage of their activity throughout the day. After learning he had been criminally charged for his conduct, Robertson took Fracker’s phone and destroyed it, along with his own.

Last Friday, the leader of the North Carolina Chapter of the Proud Boys pleaded guilty to felony charges for his actions associated with the January 6 attack. Since January 6, federal prosecutors have charged nearly 800 individuals for involvement related to the breach, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

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