A Yellville man pled guilty Wednesday to a single charge filed against him stemming from his participation in a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol January 6 last year.
Thirty-nine-year-old Jon Thomas Mott was initially charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorder in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He entered his guilty plea to the charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. The rest of the charges will be dismissed by the government.
Each of the charges carries a maximum federal prison sentence of six months or probation and fines.
The plea came in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia.
Mott will be formally sentenced March 8. Prior to the sentencing, Federal District Judge Royce Lamberth will receive a pre-sentencing report on Mott.
THE ARREST
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Mott in Yellville in May last year. The agents had conducted “pre-arrest physical surveillance” of Mott January 28 and February 5 last year.
In several videos taken during the riot, a bearded man identified as Mott is seen in various parts of the Capitol rotunda.
In one clip, the man shows signs, including red and swollen eyes, of having been sprayed with tear gas or similar chemical irritants. He is also pictured pouring water on the face of another member of the mob.
Mott is also allegedly shown pushing against the baton of a Metropolitan Police officer. Mott was reported to have been overheard saying, “don’t touch me,” and “if you don’t touch me, I won’t touch you.”
In a statement of facts included in Mott’s federal court case, investigators write the Yellville man went to Washington with an apparent acquaintance from Oklahoma.
OVERTURN 2020 ELECTION
The rioters were in Washington as part of a failed attempt to halt certification of the vote in the 2020 election.
In the process of overrunning the Capitol, death threats were also directed at a number of government officials, including former Vice President Mike Pence and then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
During the course of the occupation of the Capitol, the process of certifying the vote in the 2020 presidential election was delayed for a time and Pence and member of the House and Senate were evacuated to safer quarters.
The rioters occupied a number of areas in the Capitol, including offices and the meeting chambers for the Senate and House of Representatives.
According to media reports, it took about 4 hours to subdue the pro-Trump crowd.
Mott’s new attorney, Joseph W. Allen of Branson, also represents another person charged in connection with the riot — Sean Michael McHugh of Auburn, California.
McHugh’s charges are more serious than those filed against Mott. There is no connection spelled out in court documents between Mott and McHugh beyond the fact they have the same Branson attorney.
Allen filed a motion in mid-October to move McHugh’s trial from Washington to the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of California. No ruling has been made on that motion, according to electronic court records.
McHugh, who was arrested in Sacramento in late March last year, is being held in the Correctional Treatment Facility in the District of Columbia.
Mott has been free on a personal recognizance bond and will remain so until the March 8 sentencing hearing.
MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE
In a recent status hearing in Mott’s case, it was brought up by U.S. Attorney Graciela Lindberg that evidence in the Capitol riot cases exceeds 3.3 million files. She said to watch all of the video obtained for the cases would take 24 hours a day for 100 days.
The riot has been called the “most documented crime in U.S. history.”
The government had anticipated it would take a week to try Mott’s case if no plea could be worked out.
NUMBER OF CASES HANDLED
In the 22 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 900 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impending law enforcement.
The founder and leader of the Oath Keepers and the head of the Florida chapter of the organization were both found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other crimes related to the storming of the U.S. Capitol
A sentencing date for Elmer Stewart Rhodes, III and Kelly Meggs has not been set.
The verdict came at the end of an eight-week trial and three days of deliberations.
The longest prison sentence handed down to date is 10 years given to a retired New York City cop.
At least five people died during the siege or its aftermath, including several police officers who were on scene Jan. 6 attempting to protect the Capitol building and those inside.
In addition to any jail time or probation they might receive, the rioters are also being ordered to pay restitution to fund the restoration of damaged areas of the Capitol as well as historic paintings and statuary.
According to the Architect of the Capitol, a number of historic paintings and pieces of statuary were reported to have been sprayed with the contents of fire extinguishers and a yellow dye.
In various video clips, rioters are seen throwing empty fire extinguishers at police.
Glass in windows and doors was smashed, offices were looted and furniture was destroyed or stolen. The estimated cost of making repairs was $1.5 million and climbing several months ago.
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