A Texas man has pleaded guilty to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Christian Cortez, 28, of Seabrook, Texas, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to a charge of civil disorder.
A co-defendant, Benjamin Larocca, 28, also of Seabrook, Texas, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to a misdemeanor charge of engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with the intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business. He is awaiting sentencing.
According to court documents, Cortez and Larocca traveled from Texas to Washington and, on Jan. 6, attended a rally near the Washington Monument. They then proceeded to the Capitol, where they saw others illegally in a restricted area and climbing the walls of the building. Cortez and Larocca climbed the stairs on the West side of the Capitol, ultimately reaching the Upper West Terrace.
Both men entered the Capitol at approximately 2:53 p.m. through the Parliamentarian Door. They traveled through the building before law enforcement stopped them and others from proceeding further into the building. Cortez and Larocca then exited the Capitol at approximately 3:06 p.m.
After leaving the building, Cortez joined a crowd in front of the North Doors, where rioters were attempting to break Capitol doors down, and law enforcement officers were attempting to keep rioters outside the building. Cortez stepped in front of the doors while officers were trying to seal them, and Cortez began swearing at the officers and calling them “oath breakers.” He slammed a blue-colored flag down and stepped in front of the doors. Even after he was sprayed with a chemical irritant, Cortez did not move and yelled, “Do it some f—– more!”
Cortez and Larocca were arrested on March 26, 2021, in Seabrook, Texas. Cortez is to be sentenced on Aug. 31, 2022. He faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Related Federal Cases
- William Gallagher, Civil Disorder, Washington 2021 · Texas
- Benjamin John Silva, Civil Disorder, Washington 2021 · District of Columbia
- Dustin Ray Williams, Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder, Texas 2021 · District of Columbia
- William Gallagher, Felony Civil Disorder, Georgia 2021 · Texas
- Christian Alexander Secor, 42 Months for Obstruction of Official Proceeding, Washington DC, 2022 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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