Utah Man Found Guilty of Felony Obstruction and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON โ€“ A Utah man was convicted today by a jury in the District of Columbia of five felonies and two misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

John Earl Sullivan, 29, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was convicted by a jury of felony offenses of obstructing an official proceeding, obstructing officers during a civil disorder, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds or buildings. In addition to the felonies, Sullivan was found guilty of misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth will sentence Sullivan at a later date.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Sullivan, wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask, joined rioters storming the U.S. Capitol, where he filmed a crowd pushing through several police barriers on the west side of the Capitol. As Sullivan and the others approach the Capitol building, Sullivan can be heard in his video saying at various points: โ€œThere are so many people. Letโ€™s go. This sโ€” is ours! Fโ€” yeah,โ€ โ€œWe accomplished this sโ€”. We did this sโ€” together. Fโ€” yeah!โ€ โ€œWe are all a part of this fโ€”ing history,โ€ and โ€œLetโ€™s burn this sโ€” down.โ€

Sullivan entered the Capitol via a smashed window next to the broken Senate Wing Door and, once inside, roamed the building with other individuals who had unlawfully entered. During an interaction with another, Sullivan can be heard in the video saying, โ€œWe gotta get this sโ€” burned,โ€ โ€œitโ€™s our house mโ€”fโ€”,โ€ and โ€œwe are getting this sโ€”.โ€ Sullivan ignored law enforcement commands to leave and told the officers to stand down, so they would not get hurt. Sullivan encouraged other rioters, explaining he was โ€œreadyโ€ because he had โ€œbeen in so many riots.โ€

Sullivan filmed the crowds trying to break open doors to the House Chamber and then at the Speakerโ€™s Lobby. Members, staff, and press were present inside the House of Representatives during this time. At both locations, Sullivan informed other members of the crowd he had a knife and offered up that knife to rioters at entrance to the House Chamber. When rioters told the crowd at the House Chamber door not to be violent and to be peaceful, Sullivan responded, โ€œThey donโ€™t listen without that sโ€”,โ€ โ€œFโ€” that sโ€”,โ€ and later told the crowd to โ€œpull that motherfโ€”er out this bโ€”.โ€ Sullivan positioned himself at the front of the Speakerโ€™s Lobby crowd, as the crowd began to break the doorsโ€™ glass windows. Sullivan encouraged those attempting to break the windows to โ€œGet this sโ€”!โ€ Shortly thereafter, the windows are broken out which a woman climbs through, resulting in her being shot. Afterwards, Sullivan was filmed stating he was in favor of anyone wanting to tear the system down.

Sullivan was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021, in Salt Lake City by the FBI.

The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneyโ€™s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisionโ€™s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorneyโ€™s Office for the District of Utah.

This case is being investigated by the FBIโ€™s Salt Lake City and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 34 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 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.

Read Original Press Release

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