Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 35
- Location
- Sylva, North Carolina
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building and Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building and Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Capitol Building and Ground; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Lewis Cantwell, the co-owner of a tea shop in downtown Sylva, N.C., told Smoky Mountain News that he was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, filming and "didn't go there with any intention to hurt anyone or storm the Capitol.” According to The Sylva Herald, in social media posts written days after the insurrection, Cantwell allegedly said, "People got mad when [P]ence didn’t do what they wanted, so Trump supporters stormed that building, not Antifa, not BLM, not undercover feds,” and added “I talked to people up front. Most were veterans and small business owners.” A spokesperson for the U.S. Army confirmed that Cantwell served from 2005-2007.
Case History
Cantwell pleaded Guilty to one count: Civil Disorder. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 12/6/2022 to 5 months incarceration; 3 years of supervised release; $2,000 in restitution; $100 special assessment. Cantwell 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 - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.