Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Civil Disorder During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON - A Kentucky man pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2024, to a felony charge stemming from his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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.

Matthew Brent Carver, 50, of Vanceburg, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder on Monday before U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. Judge Boasberg will sentence Carver on March 5, 2025.

According to court documents, Carver traveled from Kentucky to Washington D.C. to attend a rally on Jan. 6, 2021, on the National Mall. After the rally, Carver walked to the U.S. Capitol building along Constitution Avenue N.W. and entered the restricted perimeter. Carver remained within the restricted perimeter on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building for some time and eventually ascended the partially covered stairs on the northwest side, making his way onto the Upper West Terrace.

Around approximately 2:45 pm, law enforcement officers, including members of the U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)-who were performing their official duties at the Capitol on January 6-gathered and formed a police line towards the southern end of the Upper West Terrace. Several minutes later, around 2:47 pm, these officers moved in tandem towards the northern end of the Upper West Terrace in an effort to clear and secure the Upper West Terrace.

As the officers advanced, they ordered protesters to "Move Back! Move Back!" while they attempted to secure the Upper West Terrace. Around 2:48 pm, as the police line approached the northern end of the Upper West Terrace, Carver emerged from the crowd, assumed an aggressive stance towards the approaching officers, and yelled, "Come on! Bring it!"

Seconds later, Carver approached an MPD officer, grabbed the officer's baton, and attempted to pull the baton away from the officer and, in doing so, also pulled the officer out of the police line and into the crowd of rioters. Carver was then pulled back into the crowd. Shortly afterward, the police line reformed and continued to push the protesters out of the Upper West Terrace, and Carver eventually made his way out of restricted permitter.

The FBI arrested Carver on Jan. 30, 2024, in Kentucky.

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 Western District of Kentucky.

This case is being investigated by the FBI's Louisville and Washington Field Offices, as well as the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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