Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 30
- Location
- Aurora, Colorado
- Charges
- Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
At 2:24 pm on Jan. 6, 2021, Payton Valdez and his father, Daniel Valdez, were among the first to climb through a broken window near the Senate Wing Door to enter the U.S. Capitol, according to court documents. Several minutes later, Payton was photographed holding a police riot shield. He and his father spent nine minutes inside before exiting through the same broken window.
Case History
Valdez pleaded Guilty to both charges. Sentenced on 9/10/2024 to 60 days incarceration; 3 years probation; $20 special assessment; $500 restitution. Valdez 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.