Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 53
- Location
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Charges
- Obstruction of Law Enforcement During a Civil Disorder; Unlawful Entry on Restricted Buildings or Grounds; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds; Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers or Employees
- Case status
- Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Federal prosecutors allege that James Haffner took part in the U.S. Capitol riot along with another man from the Seattle area named Ronald Loehrke. According to documents filed in federal court, Loehrke communicated in December 2020 with Ethan Nordean, a leader of the extremist group the Proud Boys who is facing conspiracy charges connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. Nordean allegedly told Loehrke that he wanted Loehrke "on the front line" with him on Jan. 6, 2021. Loehrke allegedly agreed and said he was bringing three "Bad mother f******" with him to Washington, D.C. On the day of the attack, prosecutors say, Haffner and Loehrke marched with members and associates of the Proud Boys toward the Capitol. They then allegedly dismantled barriers protecting the outside of the Capitol building, and, at one point, Haffner allegedly used an aerosol spray against an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police guarding an outer door. Soon after, prosecutors say, Haffner, Loehrke and other rioters were able to breach the building through that door and can be seen in video footage taken inside the building. Haffner was arrested in Rapid City, S.D., on Dec. 1, 2021.
Case History
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.