A man from The Colony has pleaded guilty to one of the seven charges he faced from the US Capitol riot.
Daniel Caldwell, 51, has admitted to fighting with the DC Metro Police officers who were helping Capitol police during last year's riot. Specifically, Caldwell used a chemical spray on four D.C. Metropolitan Police officers who were assisting U.S. Capitol police during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
U.S District Judge, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly set sentencing for February 1. She warned Caldwell that the charge of Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon, carries a possible 20 year prison term, although the federal sentencing guidelines seem to suggest a prison term around five years is more in line. Federal prosecutors dropped six other charges.
Caldwell is seen on video and on pictures grabbed from video spraying officers with a chemical. During the hearing, Caldwell admitted he knew the spray could be considered a dangerous weapon. Indeed he will owe the officers a yet-to-be-determined amount of restitution for their injuries.
Caldwell told the judge he had traveled to Washington to take part in President Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally. He said he did not know he would be walking to the Capitol until crowds moved from the Ellipse, near the White House, to the Capitol where Congress was in the process of certifying the Electoral College results.
“I was there to voice my 1st Amendment concern about the Electoral College,” Caldwell told the judge.
Caldwell said he sprayed the officers in retaliation for their treatment of some of the other demonstrators. He, in turn, was shot with a rubber bullet.
“Did you use the spray knowing that it could cause injury?” Kollar-Kotelly asked.
“Yes, your honor.” Caldwell replied
The plea agreement was nearly rejected by the Judge at one point when Caldwell declined to say whether he intended to enter the Capitol. His attorney intervened, telling the judge that was not part of the plea deal. Kollar-Kotelly relented and allowed the plea to move forward.
Caldwell will remain locked in a D.C. area jail at least until he is sentenced.
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