National Guardsman who set off FBI manhunt admits to spraying officers on Jan. 6

Source: NBC News

April 25, 2024, 12:16 PM EDT


WASHINGTON — A former New Jersey National Guard police sergeant who went on the run in November, after the FBI came to arrest him in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, pleaded guilty on Thursday to assaulting officers.

Gregory Yetman pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with physical contact and the intent to commit another felony during a hearing before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. The parties agreed that Yetman's sentencing guidelines were between 37 and 46 months in federal prison.

Yetman, a heavy equipment operator who was at the time an enlisted military police officer, admitted that he attended then-President Donald Trump's speech on Jan. 6 and understood that Trump said they were going to the Capitol.

"Yetman then walked to the west side of U.S. Capitol building, where he heard people chanting, 'Stop the Steal.' While there, he heard 'flash bangs' and observed tear gas being deployed by U.S. Capitol police officers who were defending the Capitol," according to the agreed-upon statement of offense. "He observed rioters who had been exposed to gas and oleoresin capsicum ('OC') spray and watched as other rioters attempted to break windows. He also saw a police officer get pulled into the crowd but did not attempt to help the officer."

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/national-guardsman-set-fbi-manhunt-admits-spraying-officers-jan-6-rcna148966