Man Arrested for Assault on Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

DOJ -- Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Columbia  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, December 3, 2021

Nevada Man Arrested for Assault on Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Defendant Accused of Throwing Objects at Officers, Using Makeshift Weapons, and Damaging Exterior
           
WASHINGTON — A Nevada man has been arrested for assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous weapon and other crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Josiah Kenyon, 34, of Winnemucca, Nevada, is charged with engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon, among other charges. He was arrested on Dec. 1, 2021, in Reno, Nevada, and made his initial appearance today in the District of Nevada. He remains detained pending further court proceedings. 

            According to court documents, Kenyon was in the Capitol from approximately 2:53 p.m. until 3:18 p.m., near a Senate Wing door and the Crypt of the building. He later joined a crowd outside at the Lower West Terrace. Kenyon was wearing a “Jack Skellington” costume, based on a character from the movie, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” During the rioting, he and others damaged an exterior window of the building. Kenyon first attempted to break the window with a closed fist, followed by several attempts with a flag staff. Later, he used several objects, including what appeared to be a table leg with a protruding nail, to assault law enforcement officers who were attempting to protect the building. Additionally, according to the documents, he threw an unknown object and what appears to be a large, hard plastic pylon towards officers.

            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 District of Nevada.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Kenyon as #94 in its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Reno Resident Agency of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Reno, Nevada, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 10 months since Jan. 6, more than 675 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 210 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.

            The charges contained in any criminal complaint or indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Attachment(s): 
Download Kenyon, Josiah - Redacted Complaint
Download Kenyon, Josiah - Redacted Statement of Facts
Topic(s): 
Violent Crime
Component(s): 
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
National Security Division (NSD)
USAO - District of Columbia
USAO - Nevada
Updated December 3, 2021