Virginia Man Arrested as More Than 1,100 Charged Over Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Published: 9/8/2023, 2:07:44 AM EDT

The number of people charged in connection with incidents related to the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol has now surpassed 1,100, as more arrests ensued this week, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).

Around 800 of those have been convicted.

Among those arrested is Virginia resident Lewis Wayne Snoots, who is alleged to have taken part in assaulting D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone at the Capital on Jan. 6.

Mr. Snoots, 59, was arrested Tuesday.

Mr. Snoots is accused of physically restraining Mr. Fanone as others assaulted him, resulting in a minor heart attack and concussion, which Mr. Fanone testified about before the House Jan. 6 committee last year, according to Axios.

Mr. Fanone said the experience of the assault led to his resignation from the police force in December 2021.

Some 140 officers from Capitol and D.C. police were injured during the breach on Jan. 6, reported by The Washington Post.

Video Evidence

According to the DOJ, the charges are backed up by video evidence, which appears to show Mr. Snoots preventing Mr. Fanone from being able to defend himself against the mob attacks.

The video evidence was part of an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Kevin Moore on Sept. 6, which allegedly shows Mr. Snoots as part of the crowd, forcefully grabbing a riot shield from officers, which he then passed to others behind him.

According to the affidavit, Mr. Snoots grabbed Mr. Fanone and pulled him into the crowd while others snatched the officer's taser, shocking him in the neck repeatedly.

Others Involved in Assault

Four other men have pled guilty to assaulting Mr. Fanone and were given sentences of between four and 12.5 years.

Daniel Rodriguez of Fontana, California, received the longest sentence of over 12 years. Albuquerque Head of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to more than seven years, while two other attackers, Kyle Young, and Thomas Sibick, were given sentences of seven and four years, respectively.

Recent convictions have seen some of the longest sentences for the Jan. 6 breach of the Capital, including a 22-year sentence for Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and 15 to 18-year sentences for three of his lieutenants.

Protestors wave flags on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) — Protestors wave flags on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo

Mr. Snoots first appeared in court on Sept. 6 with no attorney listed in court records. He was later released pending arraignment in Washington, The Washington Post reported.

"In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement," the DOJ said.

Close to 200 people have been charged since the beginning of this year, according to Patricia Hartman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, with an average prison sentence for a felony conviction being around 3.5 years, reported the newspaper.