Related Federal Cases
- Matthew Honigford, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Washington DC, 2021 · Washington
- Bryan Roger Bishop, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Washington DC, 2021 · Oregon
- Florida Man, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Washington DC, 2021 · District of Columbia
- James Parker, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Washington DC, 2021 · Texas
- Cohen, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Washington DC, 2021 · Connecticut
Defendant Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Law Enforcement
Matthew Honigford, a 31-year-old man from Delphos, Ohio, was sentenced to 19 months in prison for his role in assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Honigford pleaded guilty to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers on Feb. 21, 2024.
According to court documents, Honigford traveled from his home in Ohio to attend the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. After the rally, Honigford made his way to the Southwest Plaza of the U.S. Capitol building with a large group of rioters. At approximately 2:30 p.m., court documents say that Honigford was positioned at the front of the crowd of rioters that had breached a police line and gained access to a set of stairs on the Southwest Plaza.
Body-worn camera footage shows Honigford holding a flagpole horizontally in front of his body with both hands. He is then seen pushing the flagpole into a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer’s chest area, and a struggle ensued. Honigford then advanced with the crowd to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol.
Court documents say that from approximately 2:44 to 2:46 p.m., Honigford repeatedly touched or attempted to touch several MPD officers in the police line with his hands, stating he was praying for them. When officers asked Honigford to stop, Honigford responded, ‘How am I supposed to bless you guys?’ Honigford continued to reach his hands out toward the officers until other rioters told him to stop, and he turned toward them to say, ‘I’m trying to f— pray, guys.’
At about 2:46 p.m., Honigford grabbed a metal bike rack barricade and used his body to push it against the police line. An MPD officer pulled on Honigford’s jacket in an attempt to prevent him from pushing the barrier; however, Honigford leaned away and kicked the bike rack against the officer.
The FBI arrested Honigford on Nov. 21, 2023, in Ohio. This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland and Washington Field Offices, which listed Honigford as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #506 on its seeking information photos. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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