Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 28
- Location
- West Jefferson, Ohio
- Charges
- Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
According to federal investigators, Clayton Hildebrand was identified in footage from Jan. 6, 2021, as wearing an Ohio State University jacket, a red hat and a Trump flag as a cape around his neck. Court documents allege he spent that afternoon on the U.S. Capitol grounds with associates Evan Hunt and Michael Sposite. The three men were among the first protestors to approach the West Front of the building. Open-source video footage showed them on a ledge chanting “USA! USA!” while protestors clashed with police officers. They entered the building itself at approximately 2:17 pm through the Senate Wing door, just a few minutes after it was initially breached. They left three minutes later through the same door. Hildebrand was arrested on Mar. 5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.
Case History
Hildebrand pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. Jury Trial set for 4/15/2025 on remaining counts. On 1/21/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice
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.