WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — A Lancaster County man will serve up to nine months in prison followed by three years of probation after pleading guilty to a felony charge stemming from his participation in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol building.
Cameron Edward Hess, 27, of Lancaster, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. He was sentenced Monday at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth.
"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," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said of Hess.
According to court documents, Hess traveled from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, and was identified in closed-circuit television and open-source video illegally entering the U.S. Capitol building via the East Rotunda Doors at approximately 3:24 p.m.
Court documents say that Hess pushed his way inside while police officers were attempting to direct the rioters out of the doors.
At about 3:25 p.m., Hess pushed further into the Capitol building, separated by just a few rioters from the line of police officers trying to clear the building of the mob, court documents state.
At about 3:30 p.m., officers regained control of the doorway, and Hess was pushed out the East Rotunda Doors, according to court records. Hess then approached the officers from the outside and, in an attempt to breach the Capitol again, pushed a law enforcement officer attempting to close the doors.
The officer instructed Hess to “stop” multiple times, but Hess physically engaged the officer with his right arm while holding the door open with his left. After this confrontation, the police successfully closed the East Rotunda Doors, but Hess remained outside the doors for at least 10 more minutes, according to court documents.
Court records say that on Jan. 6, Hess sent text messages saying, in part, “people storming the Capitol” and that he was “in the thick of it. Got pepper sprayed and teargassed.”
That evening, Hess bragged about his assault on police in a message, writing, “I was brawling at the door.”
Several days later, Hess sent another message saying, “Don’t tell anyone I was there.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania provided valuable assistance.
The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office’s Capital Area Resident Agency and the Washington Field Office investigated this case. The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police provided valuable assistance.
In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony, authorities said.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit Tips.FBI.gov.
