Current:Home > Markets4 California men linked to Three Percenters militia convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 case-InfoLens
4 California men linked to Three Percenters militia convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 case
View Date:2024-12-23 11:26:34
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four California men linked to the “Three Percenters” militia movement have been convicted charges including conspiracy and obstruction for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Erik Scott Warner, 48, of Menifee,; Felipe Antonio Martinez, 50, of Lake Elsinore,; Derek Kinnison, 42, of Lake Elsinore,; and Ronald Mele, 54, of Temecula, were found guilty on Tuesday after a trial in Washington’s federal court, according to prosecutors.
They were convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding — the joint session of Congress in which lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.
Attorneys for Martinez and Warner declined to comment, and emails seeking comment were sent to an attorney for Mele.
Kinnison’s lawyer, Nicolai Cocis, said he is disappointed with the verdict and they are considering all available legal options.
“Mr. Kinnison is a patriotic citizen who wanted to show his support for President Trump, who he believed was the rightful winner of the 2020 election. He regrets his involvement in the events of January 6,” Cocis said in an email.
Prosecutors say the men were part of a Three Percenters militia in southern California. The Three Percenters militia movement refers to the myth that only 3% of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War against the British.
They were charged in 2021 alongside Alan Hostetter, a former California police chief, right-wing activist and vocal critic of COVID-19 restrictions, who was convicted in July in a separate trial. Another one of their codefendants, Russell Taylor, pleaded guilty in April to a conspiracy charge.
The four men joined a telegram chat with Hostetter and Taylor called “The California Patriots - DC Brigade” to coordinate plans for coming to Washington. Taylor posted that he created the group for “fighters” who were expected to bring “weaponry” and body armor with them to Washington on Jan. 6, according to prosecutors.
Warner, Martinez, Kinnison and Mele drove cross country together days before the riot. On Jan. 6, Warner entered the Capitol through a broken window. Meanwhile, Martinez, wearing a tactical vest, and Kinnison, who was wearing a gas mask, joined rioters on the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace, according to the indictment. Mele, who was also wearing a tactical vest, proclaimed “Storm the Capitol!” in a “selfie” style video on the stairs of the building, prosecutors say.
Warner and Kinnison, who were accused of deleting the “DC Brigade” chat from their phones after the riot, were also convicted of tampering with documents or proceedings.
Nearly 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Over 800 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or judge after a trial. Approximately 700 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from three days to 22 years.
veryGood! (1999)
Related
- 15 new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season, from 'Emilia Perez' to 'Maria'
- Taylor Swift’s Makeup Artist Lorrie Turk Reveals the Red Lipstick She Wears
- Frankie Valli addresses viral Four Seasons performance videos, concerns about health
- Wendy Williams Says It’s About Time for Sean Diddy Combs' Arrest
- Horoscopes Today, November 11, 2024
- Port workers strike at East Coast, Gulf ports sparks fears of inflation and more shortages
- LeBron James Reacts to Making Debut With Son Bronny James as Lakers Teammates
- Larry Laughlin, longtime AP bureau chief for northern New England, dies at 75
- American arrested in death of another American at luxury hotel in Ireland
- Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford Shares Update on Life in Monaco After Years-Long Custody Battle
Ranking
- Cleveland Browns’ Hakeem Adeniji Shares Stillbirth of Baby Boy Days Before Due Date
- Johnny Gaudreau’s NHL Teammates Celebrate His Daughter’s Birthday After His Death
- Proof Gabourey Sidibe’s 5-Month-Old Twin Babies Are Growing “So Big So Fast”
- Facing more clergy abuse lawsuits, Vermont’s Catholic Church files for bankruptcy
- 'Treacherous conditions' in NYC: Firefighters battling record number of brush fires
- Pac-12 building college basketball profile with addition of Gonzaga
- The grace period for student loan payments is over. Here’s what you need to know
- A 'Ring of fire' eclipse is happening this week: Here's what you need to know
Recommendation
-
Sting Says Sean Diddy Combs Allegations Don't Taint His Song
-
Judge rejects computer repairman’s defamation claims over reports on Hunter Biden laptop
-
7 Debate Questions about Climate Change and Energy for Pennsylvania’s Senate Candidates
-
Sydney Sweeney's Expert Tips to Upgrade Your Guy's Grooming Routine
-
Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
-
Judge rejects computer repairman’s defamation claims over reports on Hunter Biden laptop
-
Virginia school board to pay $575K to a teacher fired for refusing to use trans student’s pronouns
-
Jay Leno says 'things are good' 2 years after fire, motorcycle accident in update