Defendant Violently Attacked Officer
WASHINGTON - A Texas man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. 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 presidential election.
Robert Wayne Dennis, 63, of Garland, TX, was found guilty of civil disorder, two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, all felonies, and three misdemeanor charges, including: engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. The verdict followed a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg, who scheduled sentencing for April 13, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, Dennis was captured on video on Jan. 6 near the stairs to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department formed a police line to act as a barrier against the crowd. While law enforcement officers were attempting to control the crowd, numerous people began charging and striking them, including Dennis. At approximately 2:51 p.m., Dennis charged the line of officers. One officer, identified in court documents as “Officer J.S.," attempted to use a baton to push him away. Dennis then grabbed “Officer CW’s" baton and took “Officer J.S." to the ground after a violent struggle in which he threw punches at the officer. During the struggle, the baton belonging to “Officer J.S." was knocked out of his hands. Dennis was also charged with assaulting “Officer CW."
Dennis was arrested on Oct. 20, 2021, in Texas.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, as well as the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the two years since Jan. 6, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
