Christopher Worrell, 52, of Naples, Fla., was found guilty after a five-day bench trial on all seven counts, including one count of obstructing congressional confirmation of the results of the 2020 presidential election and one count of felony assault on a police officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Allegations included. Three officers with pepper gel.
Worrell and co-defendant Daniel Lyons Scott were previously described Examples of “instruments,” or Proud Boys whose actions on January 6 were orchestrated or inspired by four leaders of the right-wing group convicted last week of conspiracy to commit treason, Worrell interacted with former Proud Boys chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and the group’s January 6 March co-leader Ethan Nordian. Worrell was seen hanging out with Scott on January 6 for what is known as a “milkshake”. Scott was recorded during a Proud Boys march shouting, “Let’s take the f—–g capital!” — and told to silence by leaders — even before President Donald Trump directed angry supporters to march on the Capitol.
But on Friday, before sentencing was set for Aug. 18, US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth said his decision was “not the product of a defect by the federal government.”
“Even focusing on what Mr. Worrell said, did and knew, [his] Lamberth said, “The purpose of obstructing or obstructing the Electoral College certification is proved to me beyond a reasonable doubt.” “He wanted the mob to take the Capitol. … There can be no doubt that he did in fact pepper spray the prison,” the judge said.
Prosecutors produced images recorded from multiple angles that showed Worrell spraying in the direction of police and the three officers reacting to the hit at the same time and place. They also cited supporting witness testimony as well as Worrell’s shifting and conflicting statements from the stand and to the FBI.
Defense attorney William Shipley argued that the government’s case was circumstantial, not conclusive. They also argued that Worrell’s actions may have been reckless but did not intend to cause bodily injury, and that he did not enter the capitol building itself, but instead walked away from the police line before the building was breached. In closing arguments, Shipley criticized the obstruction charge against his client, saying “prosecutors took” misdemeanor conduct and converted it into a felony.
Lamberth concluded that it was “absurd” for Worrell to claim that he was a “lone hero” that day, helping the police by spraying far-left agitators. Worrell believed that explanation in statements that day and later, in which he celebrated his actions and those of Scott, who “body-slammed” two officers guarding the stairway leading to the building. , thereby triggering a significant breach of the Second Police Line.
Prosecutor William Dreher said Worrell participated in several recorded communications before and after discussing preventing electoral vote authentication, storming the Capitol, and confronting the police. Dreher said that Worrell yelled at law enforcement that morning, shouting “Honor your oath!” and “Don’t pit us against you!”
Worrell is a cancer survivor living with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His defense attorney and the judge noted his medical abuse by the prison and his ongoing condition. Lamberth allowed Worrell home release pending sentencing, saying he was not a flight risk, adding that the court would ensure that his health needs were “taken under adequate consideration.”
Scott pleaded guilty to two counts, assaulting police and obstructing a joint session of Congress, and faced sentencing on May 23.
Lamberth gets warden in October 2021 DC Jail And the director of the D.C. Department of Corrections was held in contempt of court, finding that prison officials failed to turn over information needed to approve surgery recommended four months ago for Worrell’s broken wrist while in custody. Lamberth conditionally released Worrell after eight months.
The court order in the January 6 case put an end to growing frustration over conditions at the 45-year-old prison, which held about 1,500 inmates at the time. The US Marshals Service later announced the plans. transfer hundreds A surprise inspection of pretrial federal detainees at a federal prison in Pennsylvania found evidence of “systemic” abuse of inmates, including unsanitary living conditions and punitive denial of food and water, officials said.
The Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs filed a federal lawsuit against the prison last month, seeking class-action status to block it. unconstitutional treatment of injured prisoners From the government’s deliberate indifference to their dire medical needs.
