Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON – A Minnesota man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of six felony and five misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Brian Christopher Mock, 44, of Minneapolis, was found guilty of all 11 charges following a bench trial before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Oct. 10, 2023.
Mock was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding; obstructing officers during a civil disorder; four counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers; theft of government property; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and act of physical violence in the Capitol building or grounds.
According to the government’s evidence, Mock occupied the lower west terrace of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 for over three hours, during which time video footage captured him removing barricades, assaulting multiple law enforcement officers who were trying to protect the building from rioters, stealing government property, cheering on the rioters, and repeatedly demanding that the police surrender the Capitol grounds. Specifically, from approximately 2:29-2:35 p.m., Mock committed four assaults.
First, Mock shoved a fallen U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officer back to the ground as he tried to stand and then kicked the officer. A few minutes later, Mock broke a flagpole in half and hurled it, like a spear, at a line of officers blocking the rioters from advancing. When one officer became separated from his colleagues, Mock shoved him in the back.
Finally, as cornered USCP and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were retreating, Mock shoved one of the USCP officers to the ground. Mock then picked up two USCP riot shields and passed them back to other rioters, depriving retreating officers of vital protection as the violent crowd pursued them.
The 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 Offices for the District of Minnesota and the Middle District of Florida.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, who identified Mock as #298 in their seeking information photos, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police, with significant assistance provided by the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office.
In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 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 investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.