Source: United States Department of Justice News
Defendant Fought Over Police Barricade, Pushed Metal Sign Into Defensive Line Formed by Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON — A Colorado man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Thomas Patrick Hamner, 49, of Peyton, Colorado, was sentenced in the District of Columbia.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Hamner illegally entered the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, which was barricaded with fencing. Upon seeing rioters break through the police line, Hamner hopped over the barricades and began pulling them down. At approximately 1 p.m., a crowd of violent rioters assembled on the West Plaza of the Capitol. U.S. Capitol Police formed a line of bike racks to act as a barrier against the crowd. Officers fended off repeated attempts by those in the mob to pull on the bike racks, either with their hands or with ropes and straps. At approximately 1:14 p.m., Hamner engaged with a tug-of-war with a Capitol Police officer and an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department over a bike rack that was being used as a barricade.
Additionally, at approximately 1:40 p.m., Hamner joined others in the mob in pushing a large metal sign into the defensive line formed by law enforcement officers.
Hamner was arrested on Nov. 9, 2021, in Colorado Springs. He later was indicted on a total of six charges, including five felonies. He pleaded guilty on May 17, 2022, to one of the felony charges, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. He has pleaded not guilty to the remaining five charges and is awaiting further court proceedings.
Following his prison term, Hamner will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also must pay $2,000 in restitution.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Denver Field Office, Colorado Springs Resident Agency and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Hamner as #61 in its seeking information photos. Assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 20 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 870 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 265 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.