Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 72
- Location
- Palm Bay, Florida
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
James Varnell Cusick, Jr. is the founder and pastor of a church in Melbourne, Fla., according to federal court records. On Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors allege, he entered the U.S. Capitol building and can be seen on surveillance footage taken from inside the building. Cusick breached the Capitol along with his son, Casey, who is a vice president of the church, as well as another man who is one of the church's members, court documents indicate. In March, the FBI received an anonymous letter tipping law enforcement off to the Cusicks' alleged breach of the Capitol. Both men were arrested on June 24, 2021. According to court documents, Cusick served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army.
Case History
Cusick pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Found Guilty on all charges in a Jury trial on 7/14/2023. Sentenced on 10/12/2023 to 10 days of incarceration; 12 months of supervised release; 24 months of probation; Special assessment of $70; Fine of $3,000; Restitution of $500; 50 hours of community service. Cusick 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.