Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 54
- Location
- California
- Charges
- Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers; Civil Disorder; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
The FBI identified Theo Hanson’s involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot through a search warrant served on another person’s phone. Court documents say he participated in a Telegram group called “The California Patriots- DC Brigade.” The group's own description said it would "serve as the Comms for able bodied individuals that are going to DC on Jan 6. Many of us have not met before and we are all ready and willing to be engaged in this fight. We will come together for this moment that we are all called upon.” In private Telegram messages a few days before Jan. 6, 2021, Hanson spoke with an individual about bringing firearms “as peacekeepers” and also said, “I am also rolling with a Las Vegas LEO and two special ops guys. We are looking to see what is brewing and looking to take care of some friends should a full, multi hour riot break out.” Court documents say that he entered the Capitol around 2:37 pm and, while inside, repeatedly obstructed efforts by law enforcement to close doors that would have prevented other rioters from entering the building. He was arrested in Nampa, Idaho, on Nov. 30, 2023.
Case History
Hanson pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Status Conference set for 1/23/2025. On 1/22/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice
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.