A 69-year-old Myerstown resident has pled guilty to a single federal criminal charge resulting from his unlawful entry into the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
As part of a plea agreement entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Sept. 10, Terry Brown admitted that he violated Title 40, Section 5104 (e)(2)(G), of the United States Code, titled “Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building,” an offense punishable by up to six months in prison.
In return, federal prosecutors have agreed to drop, at the time of sentencing, three other charges filed against Brown in connection with the invasion of the Capitol on Jan. 6 by a violent mob bent on overturning Joe Biden’s victory in the November 2020 presidential election. The additional charges are “Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building,” “Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building,” and “Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building.”
However, in the plea agreement he signed on Sept. 7, Brown expressly stated that he “agrees and acknowledges that the charges to be dismissed at the time of sentencing were based on fact.”
The plea agreement contains no agreement on what punishment Brown will receive at sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 1 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington.
In a “Statement of Offense” filed in connection with Brown’s plea, which Brown admitted was correct, the U.S. Attorney alleges, in part, that at about 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, “video surveillance captured Brown walking in the Capitol Visitors Center, which is part of the Capitol building. Brown and others gathered in a corridor at the end of which US. Capitol Police officers had formed a defensive line. The officers issued commands for the rioters to leave the building.”
The Statement of Offense continues: “When rioters refused their commands, the officers began arresting individuals who had unlawfully entered the building, including Brown. The FBI uncovered no evidence that Brown engaged in violent or disruptive conduct at the Capitol grounds or inside the building,” and that “Brown cooperated with law enforcement following his arrest.”
In a Jan. 7 Lebanon Daily News article, Brown was quoted as saying “I don’t regret doing what I did, because we got a message across and the world knows it,” an apparent reference to the Capitol attackers’ desire to overturn the November 2020 presidential election results.
Brown remains free on pretrial release pending sentencing, but must stay out of Washington except for court appearances.
Two other Lebanon County residents have been charged as a result of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
North Cornwall police officer Joseph Fischer, who has been suspended by the township, has pled not guilty and is free on pretrial release. His next court appearance is set for Oct. 26.
41 year-old Palmyra resident Leo Brent Bozell IV, is charged with obstructing an official proceeding, unlawfully entering restricted buildings and grounds, and disorderly conduct. He has pled not guilty and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 15.
NOTE: This post was updated at 2:00 p.m. on Sept 13 to reflect the charges against Leo Brent Bozell IV
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