Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 43
- Location
- Thurmont, Maryland
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers (2 counts); Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Acquitted in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
After the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, the FBI posted on its website a photograph of an unknown man assaulting police, and asked the public to help identify the man. In police body-worn camera footage from that day, the man can be seen raising a flagpole over his head and bringing it down on officers. He can also be seen trying to take a police baton from an officer later on. In November of 2021, a confidential source contacted the FBI to report that the photograph depicted Adam Ryan Obest, according to an FBI statement of facts filed in federal court. The FBI then reviewed Obest's social media and was able to match clothing he wore in other photos to clothing he allegedly wore at the Jan. 6 riot, including a camouflage "Army Veteran" hat. The bureau also reviewed social media posts, including several in which Obest allegedly claims to have been at the Capitol that day. Obest is an employee with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where federal authorities also confirmed he had taken the day off work on the day of the riot, court records state. According to a U.S. Army spokesperson, Obest served as Fire Support Specialist in the Maryland Army National Guard from 2007 to 2018. He deployed to Afghanistan twice.
Case History
Obest pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Bench trial verdict on 8/2/2024 found him Guilty on three charges: Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings. Also Guilty on three lesser charges: Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds. Found Not Guilty on two charges: Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon. Sentenced on 12/13/2024 to 18 months incarceration; 36 months of supervised release; special assessment of $285; restitution of $2,000. Obest received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.