Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 41
- Location
- Manchester, Vermont
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon (2 counts); Inflicting Bodily Injury on Certain Officers; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct within the Capitol Grounds; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
“I’m from the socialist paradise of Vermont,” William Nichols, Jr., said straight into a camera filming outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to an FBI statement of facts. Dressed in a camouflage jacket and tan combat vest, Nichols then worked his way to the front of the crowd and hit several police officers with a large circular shield, the FBI claims. Bodyworn camera footage allegedly shows Nichols grabbing one officer’s helmet and pushing and pulling the officer in an effort to maintain control of his shield. Officers eventually confiscated the shield and “rescued” the officer, who was “screaming in pain," court documents suggest. Nichols was arrested Feb. 1, 2023, in Rutland, Vt.
Case History
Nichols pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Jury trial set for 4/7/2025. On 1/21/2025, 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.