WASHINGTON — An Idaho man accused of assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges and could face up to four years in prison.
The man, Duke Wilson, 67, of Nampa, admitted that he picked up a white pole and jabbed a U.S. Capitol Police officer. He signed a court document that said he also helped other rioters who were trying to pull a shield away from an officer.
"During the struggle over the shield, the defendant pushed an officer to the ground and then pushed against another officer, along with other rioters," it said.
FBI investigators said video recordings showed him entering a tunnel on the west side of the Capitol, wearing a hat that said "CNN Fake News." It showed him trying to pull a door open as officers tried to close it, court documents said.
He faced an 11-count federal indictment filed in May. In a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to two of the counts — assaulting a federal officer and obstructing an official proceeding. Both are felonies with guideline sentences of around three to four years in prison. He will be sentenced in November.
Wilson, who appeared by video from the U.S. courthouse in Boise, said little during Tuesday's hearing.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth told him: "I know this is a tough thing to swallow. I don't know how you got yourself in the posture you're in, but you took a good step forward today" by pleading guilty.
More than 600 people have been charged with taking part in the Capitol riot. Fifty-one have pleaded guilty.
