Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 62
- Location
- Claremont, North Carolina
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
A tipster told authorities that North Carolina native James Little was part of the mob storming the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a criminal complaint. Little allegedly texted the tipster with a simple message: “We just took over the Capital!” The tipster responded with alarm and wrote that Little shouldn’t be bragging about such things. Little allegedly responded: “We are stopping treason! Stealing elections is treason! We’re not going to take it anymore!” The tipster took a screenshot of the exchange and allegedly sent it to an FBI tip line. In an interview with authorities about a week after the riot, Little allegedly told them he had been caught up in the moment and entered the Capitol. Authorities subpoenaed the phone company and found a cellphone associated with Little and those texts placed him inside the Capitol.
Case History
Little pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, and Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced 3/14/2022 to 60 days incarceration; 36 months of Probation; $10 special assessment; $500 restitution. Upon appeal, as of 8/18/2023, Little's sentence is vacated and remanded to the District court for resentencing. Resentenced on 1/25/2024 to 120 days with 60 days credit for time served; $10 special assessment; restitution of $500. Little 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.