Kansas Proud Boys leader pleads guilty to crimes during January 6 insurrection News
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Kansas Proud Boys leader pleads guilty to crimes during January 6 insurrection

Kansas Proud Boys leader William Chrestman pleaded guilty Monday to obstruction of an official proceeding and threatening a federal officer during the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol Building.

Chrestman’s plea came as part of a plea deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ) also released Monday. The plea deal, as approved by District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly, required Chrestman to sign a statement of offense stipulating his exact actions along with his guilty plea. In return, the DOJ agreed it would not pursue further charges against Chrestman in relation to the actions listed in the statement of offense. Additionally, the DOJ will also recommend a sentence of 14 years in prison, a significant reduction from the potential sentence if Chrestman had been found guilty of all counts in the original indictment.

In the statement of offense, Chrestman stated that prior to January 6, 2021, he was a “second-degree” member of the Kansas chapter of the Proud Boys. Then in December 2020, Chrestman made plans to attend the Congressional certification of the presidential election results in order to protest the election of Joe Biden. He drove to Washington, DC from January 4 to 5, 2021, staying at a Proud Boys “safe house” and meeting with other members of the organization. The next morning he went to the Capitol wearing a tactical vest and protective gloves, carrying a gas mask. While there, he encouraged others to enter the Capitol after the Proud Boys marched toward it and pushed past the police barricade shouting, “Go! Go!” He stayed at the Capitol for about an hour, where he recorded videos of himself refusing to leave the area. After that, he reached the base of the Capitol after threatening an officer with an axe handle attached to an American flag, where he then entered the building.

Chrestman is just one of many other Proud Boys members and leadership who have been charged with crimes related to January 6 including: Ethan Nordean, Dominic Pezzola, Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Nicholas Ochs and Charles Donohoe. Canada was the first country to declare the Proud Boys a terrorist group after the organization’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection. They are also classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Chrestman’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2024. He will remain in custody until then.

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