San Diegan pleads guilty in Jan. 6 Capitol breach case

The founder of a local San Diego-based security firm pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Jonathan Humphreys admitted to entering the Capitol building through a broken window and refusing to leave when police officers tried to push him and others out of the roundabout, according to court documents.

Humphreys, who was seen on surveillance footage captured by cameras around the Capitol, pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct in a capitol building and marching, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building. He will be sentenced in February by a federal judge in Washington, DC

Investigators questioned Humphreys in November 2021, and he explained that he and several of his employees were in Washington on Jan. 6 for work purposes on behalf of his company, Humphreys National Security Co.

He declined to detail the nature of his business contract in Washington, citing a confidentiality agreement. However, he said he had “plans” in case someone broke into the Capitol building, but “the plans changed a couple of times,” court records state.

According to an affidavit, a court document outlining the facts surrounding a defendant’s guilty plea, Humphreys attended a rally on the National Mall protesting the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election and “knew that Congress was in session that day because of it.” purpose.”

After the rioters broke through barricades and entered the Capitol, Humphreys joined them and later jumped through a broken window next to the doors to the Senate wing, the document said.

“When he entered the building, an alarm sounded loudly. Humphreys knew he did not have legal authority to enter the building,” the document states.

He walked through various parts of the building and ended up in the Rotunda, where a line of officers were trying to push the rioting crowd out of the building. The affidavit says Humphreys turned his back on the officers and refused to move, forcing the officers to back him and the others up.

Originally Posted: October 23, 2024 at 1:08 p.m