National Guardsman who became FBI manhunt suspect pleads guilty in January 6 riot at U.S. Capitol

April 25 (UPI) -- A National Guardsman who launched an FBI manhunt following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol pleaded guilty Thursday during a hearing in Washington, D.C.

Gregory C. Yetman, 47, of Helmetta, N.J., pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with physical contact, a release from officials at the U.S. Justice Deptartment said.

Yetmen pleaded guilty to spraying police officers with a lethal substance, officials said. As rioters were assaulting police officers, Yetman picked up an MK-46H canister containing OC spray, capable of causing serious bodily injury, held the canister under his arm, and intentionally assaulted the officers by spraying them, authorities said.

"After Yetman sprayed multiple officers for approximately 12-14 seconds, the officers retreated toward other officers and left the area," officials said.

When officers tried to arrest Yetman on Nov. 8, 2023, he fled into the woods when he could not get back into his house, Justice Department officials said.

Yetman, who was a heavy equipment operator and enlisted in the military police at the time of the riot, said he did attend it.

Court documents, though, indicate that he "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. 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."

Yetman had been one of 15 defendants held in custody without having been convicted of a crime.

At least 1,385 people have been charged in almost all 50 states for crimes related to the Capitol riot in the 3-plus years since it happened, including nearly 500 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, which is a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Prosecutors said Yetman is expected to serve between 37 and 46 months in federal prison.