Maryland Man Convicted of Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Press Release

Defendant Assaulted an Officer While Wielding Flagpole

WASHINGTON - A Maryland man was found guilty of felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Following a three-day bench trial, U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta found Adam Ryan Obest, 43, of Thurmont, Maryland, guilty of two felony charges, including civil disorder, and one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a law enforcement officer. Obest was also found guilty of several misdemeanor offenses including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and act of physical violence at the Capitol building or grounds.

Judge Mehta scheduled a sentencing hearing for December 13, 2024.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, Obest attended the "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington, D.C., and later made his way toward the U.S. Capitol building. Obest eventually arrived on the Lower West Terrace and can be seen in video footage taken from that day holding a large American flag affixed to a metal flagpole. At about 2:23 p.m., Obest approached a line of police officers and was told by one officer at the top of a set of stairs, "Do not come up here."

A few minutes later, Obest engaged in verbal and physical confrontation with police in this area, including one instance where Obest raised the flagpole that he carried above his head and brought the end of it down abruptly toward a line of police officers before another police officer tried to confiscate the flagpole. Obest then engaged directly with a Metropolitan Police Department Officer and attempted to take a baton out of the officer's hand before eventually retreating into the crowd of rioters. At about 2:35 p.m., Obest threw a smoke grenade that he picked up off the ground towards law enforcement.

The FBI arrested Obest on June 13, 2023, in Maryland.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Baltimore Field Office and the FBI's Washington Field Office, which identified Obest as #422-AFO on its FBI Tip website. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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Updated August 6, 2024