On Thursday, a National Guardsman pleaded guilty during a hearing in Washington, D.C., after launching an FBI manhunt in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Gregory C. Yetman, a 47-year-old resident of Helmetta, N.J., has pleaded guilty to a felony offense. The offense in question is assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with physical contact, according to a statement released by officials at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Officials stated that after Yetman sprayed multiple officers for around 12-14 seconds, the officers withdrew towards their colleagues and vacated the vicinity.
According to officials from the Justice Department, when officers attempted to apprehend Yetman on November 8, 2023, he evaded capture by fleeing into the nearby woods after realizing he couldn’t re-enter his house.
According to Yetman, he did attend the riot despite being a heavy equipment operator and enlisted in the military police at the time.
According to court documents, he proceeded to the western side of the U.S. Capitol building, where he could hear individuals chanting “Stop the Steal.” While there, he witnessed the use of “flash bangs” and observed the deployment of tear gas by U.S. Capitol police officers who were protecting the Capitol. He also witnessed rioters being affected by gas and oleoresin capsicum (‘OC’) spray, as well as the attempted window-breaking by other rioters. Additionally, he witnessed a police officer being pulled into the crowd, but made no effort to assist the officer.
Yetman was among 15 defendants who were held in custody without being convicted of a crime.
Since the Capitol riot occurred over three years ago, a staggering number of individuals, totaling at least 1,385, have faced charges across nearly all 50 states. Among these charges, almost 500 individuals have been accused of the felony offense of assaulting or obstructing law enforcement. It is important to note that the investigation into this incident is still ongoing.
Yetman is expected to serve between 37 and 46 months in federal prison, according to prosecutors.