Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 37
- Location
- McLeansboro, Illinois
- Charges
- Destruction of Government Property; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Parading, Picketing, and Demonstrating in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Justin LaGesse and his associate Theodore Middendorf entered the U.S. Capitol building through a broken window at approximately 2:51 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, according to court documents. The two then waved large flags -- an American flag and a Gadsden flag -- as the crowd chanted "USA!" They then moved into the Crypt, and down several hallways before exiting the building at around 3:02 p.m. After spending several minutes yelling at officers outside, LaGesse and Middendorf tried and failed to break a window near the North Door of the building with their flagpoles, prosecutors allege. They were both arrested in McLeansboro, Ill., on Jan. 17, 2024.
Case History
LaGesse pleaded Guilty to one charge: Destruction of Government Property. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 1/10/2025 to 11 months incarceration; 12 months of Supervised Release; $100 Special Assessment; Restitution of $43,315. LaGesse 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.