Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 34
- Location
- Williamsburg, Virginia
- Charges
- Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
The FBI received tips from "multiple concerned citizens" who said they recognized Jonathan Mellis, nicknamed "Cowboy Screech" on the Internet for his thick black-rimmed glasses and white cowboy hat, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Mellis posted several selfies and other photographs on Facebook of the crowd on the western steps of the Capitol, with the caption "Storming the Castle. The world heard US!!! Finally not ignored," according to court documents. As he got closer to the building itself, Mellis is allegedly seen on footage from a Metropolitan Police Department body camera "repeatedly striking and making stabbing movements towards the officers" using a large stick. According to court documents, Mellis appears to be "attempting to strike the officers’ necks between their helmets and body-armor where they are not protected." According to court documents, Mellis later wrote on Facebook, "Don't you dare try to tell that people are blaming this on antifa and BLM. We proudly take responsibility for storming the Castle."
Case History
Mellis pleaded Guilty to the charge. Sentenced on 12/20/2023 to 51 months incarceration; 3 years Supervised Release; $100 Special Assessment; $20,000 fine and $2,000 Restitution. Mellis 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.