Jan. 6 Defendant Who Fired Shots Before Planned Surrender to FBI Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison
A Texas man accused of taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol and firing shots during a welfare check days before he was scheduled to appear in court, has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Nathan Donald Pelham, of Greenville, Texas, entered the guilty plea in the U.S. District Court in Dallas on Nov. 29.
Court records show Mr. Pelham pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade of the Northern District of Texas imposed the sentence.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Pelham was informed by an FBI agent on April 12, 2023, that he had been charged by federal prosecutors in Washington with multiple misdemeanor counts stemming from his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol building.
Mr. Pelham was charged ( pdf ) by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with four misdemeanor counts including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building.
The FBI agent instructed Mr. Pelham that he should self-surrender on April 17, to which he agreed, prosecutors said.
However, that same evening, the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) initiated a welfare check at Mr. Pelham’s residence in response to a call from a relative, who advised deputies that Mr. Pelham had a gun, prosecutors said.
Gun Fired During Welfare Check
Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement officials said a child, Mr. Pelham’s minor daughter, exited the home and was placed into an HCSO patrol car, after which deputies began to hear gunshots and promptly took cover.Separate court documents ( pdf ) state that Mr. Pelham’s father called law enforcement warning that his son had a gun and was threatening to take his own life.Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement officials said a child, Mr. Pelham’s minor daughter, exited the home and was placed into an HCSO patrol car, after which deputies began to hear gunshots and promptly took cover.
Roughly one hour later, at approximately 9:38 p.m., Mr. Pelham also exited the home and walked onto the porch where he allegedly fired toward several deputies, who could be heard on body-worn camera video noting bullets "whiz" by them.
A deputy instructed Mr. Pelham to put his gun down, but prosecutors said he continued to wave it around until re-entering his home.
At 10:46 p.m., Mr. Pelham again exited the residence and fired multiple rounds, prosecutors said.
Law enforcement officials eventually departed the residence at 12:21 a.m. without making an arrest. No law enforcement officers were injured, according to prosecutors.
Mr. Pelham was arrested on April 14 shortly after police conducted a search of his home and discovered a 9mm pistol and four boxes of ammunition, as well as several 9 mm-sized holes in the walls.
Prosecutors said Mr.Pelham had a criminal history and was convicted of a state jail felony for Evading Arrest/Detention with a vehicle for an offense that occurred in September 2003 in Collin County, Texas.
In December 2003, Mr. Pelham was sentenced to five years' probation and in October 2004, he was charged with probation revocation and was sentenced to two years' confinement in state jail, court documents state.
Investigators say records obtained through a search warrant served on Google showed a mobile device associated with a Gmail address attributable to Mr. Pelham was geo-located to the north end of the Capitol Building on the day of the breach.
Defendant Denies Affiliation With Proud Boys
Photos and video footage also showed him entering the Capitol Building "wearing a hat with a logo associated with the 'Proud Boys,'" officials said, adding that he had confirmed to law enforcement officials that he was present at the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol.While Mr. Pelham confirmed to officers that he was in the building at the time of the breach, he said that he had gone up the steps on the North (Senate Chamber) side within approximately three feet of the Capitol building and "never saw, touched or went around a barricade of any type while approaching the Capitol."
He remained in the U.S. Capitol Building for approximately seven minutes, standing close to the door through which he had entered, according to prosecutors.
Mr. Pelham later denied any affiliation with the Proud Boys group, telling prosecutors that he had purchased the hat because "he liked the logo associated with it."
He also told law enforcement officials that he was "never told or heard that he was entering a restricted area" on the day of the breach, despite the heavy police presence.
According to a statement of facts ( pdf ) accompanying the charges against him, Mr. Pelham attempted to leave the United States for Canada on March 17, 2021, but was denied entry by the Canadian authorities.
He was subsequently detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection before officials searched his home.
Mr. Pelham was sentenced to time served in his Jan. 6 case in September.
The Epoch Times has contacted a lawyer for Mr. Pelham for further comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
