Bentonville Man Pleads Guilty to Capitol Riot Charges
Nathan Earl Hughes, a 34-year-old man from Bentonville, has pleaded guilty to three charges related to his involvement in the Capitol riot that took place on January 6, 2021. The charges include civil disorder and aiding and abetting, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings. Hughes remains free until his sentencing on November 15 before Judge Carl J. Nichols in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Hughes, who was not arrested until August 2023, had been scheduled for trial but changed his plea instead. According to a statement of offense filed in court by Hughes’ attorney, William Shipley Jr., Hughes was involved in pushing against the police line in a Capitol grounds tunnel on that fateful day. He also forcibly grabbed a shield held by a Capitol police officer before being pushed out of the tunnel shortly after.
Three of Hughes’ co-defendants were sentenced to prison last month after pleading guilty to similar charges. Their prison sentences ranged from six to 18 months. Actor Jay Johnston, a fourth defendant, is set to be sentenced in October. The Capitol riots occurred following a speech by then-President Donald Trump, who was protesting Joe Biden’s victory in the November 2020 presidential election.
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Photo credit arktimes.com
