A southern Minnesota man and his father have pleaded guilty to being in the mob that ambushed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed effort to thwart the counting of electoral votes during a joint session of Congress that cemented Joe Biden's succession of Donald Trump as president.
Minnesota man, his father plead guilty to being in mob that stormed U.S. Capitol
The son told a friend that day he was "one of the first ones inside."
January 5, 2022 at 5:15PM
Daniel Johnson, 29, of Austin, and his father, Daryl Johnson, 51, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, entered their pleas Tuesday in federal court in the District of Columbia to a felony charge of impeding law enforcement during a civil disorder.
The younger Johnson is among eight Minnesotans who have been charged in connection with the assault on the Capitol. One has been sentenced, and the others have yet to have their cases resolved.
The Johnsons' identical plea filings said that sentencing guidelines call for anywhere from no prison time to up to six months, fines and fees of $2,100 each and $2,000 in restitution for their portion of the nearly $1.5 million in damage done to the Capitol.
However, federal judges have wide latitude when it comes to imposing sentences. The count the Johnsons are admitting to carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Prosecutors agreed as part of the deal to drop several related counts. Both men have also agreed to cooperate with the continuing law enforcement investigation into the insurrection, according to the plea deal.
Daniel Johnson and Daryl Johnson, who lives 20 miles down the highway from his son, remain free on bond ahead of sentencing, which is scheduled for April 12. Messages were left with their attorneys Wednesday seeking explanations for their decisions to admit guilt.
In the year since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 725 people have been arrested in nearly every state in connection with the deadly breach of the U.S. Capitol. As of Tuesday, more than 225 people have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
The Johnsons are among more than 165 people who have pleaded guilty to federal charges, including 22 to felony offenses.
According to court documents:
The Johnsons unlawfully entered the Capitol building by climbing through a broken window next to the Senate wing door. They remained inside for nearly 30 minutes, making their way to the East Rotunda doors. There, they encountered a line of law enforcement officers that was attempting to keep rioters from proceeding farther.
Along with others, the Johnsons rushed the line of officers and helped push open the east rotunda doors, allowing rioters outside to enter.
In a Facebook post on the day after the attack, Daryl Johnson stated, "Mark my words Yesterday will be the beginning of the revolution." He also made comments about "some version of a civil war."
He continued that "if [we] can get 50+ year old men and women upset enough to spend thousands of $ to come to a rally what happens when those same people decide to throw out the 'elected officials.' It will be hangings on the front lawn of the capitol."
The day before the attack, Daniel Johnson posted expletives about Biden. After he left the scene of the attack, he posted, "We stormed capitol hill" and "Lol Dad and I were one of the first ones inside."
Daryl Johnson was arrested on June 11 in St. Ansgar. Daniel Johnson was arrested the same day in Austin.
The other Minnesotans charged for their alleged roles in the insurrection are:
- Robert, Jonah and Isaac Westbury, and Aaron James. They are all in the same family and from Lindstrom. Jonah Westbury recorded himself spinning around and laughing inside the Capitol, according to an FBI affidavit. "We made it," he said, according to one court filing. "We got pepper sprayed, got abused." Their cases remain pending.
- Brian C. Mock, 42, of Minneapolis. He is seen in screenshots of police body camera footage at the front of the crowd of rioters and breaking through the police line to enter the Capitol grounds, according to the charges. He assaulted two Capitol Police officers, the charges added. His case remains pending.
- Jordan K. Stotts, 32, of Bemidji. He was the first Minnesotan to be sentenced. In November, he received 60 days of home confinement and two years of probation after pleading guilty to parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Stotts took a 360-degree video of the Capitol rotunda and took photos from the Capitol steps and posted them to his Facebook account with the caption: "Patriots! I got kicked out but I'll be back!" the complaint says.
- Victoria C. White, 40, of Rochester. She posted updates to Facebook of her participation, and dared police to "come get me," according to federal charges. Her case is pending.
Star Tribune staff writers Andy Mannix and Stephen Montemayor and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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