AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection event at the U.S. Capitol.

What You Need To Know

  • Geoffrey Samuel Shough, 38, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a charge of civil disorder for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to the Department of Justice

  • Shough was arrested on March 1 in Austin. Investigators said he was captured on video waving a Texas flag during the riot. They additionally said he was wearing body armor and was among the first rioters to breach a line of uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officers who were attempting to keep people out of the building

  • Shough is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 8 and faces up to five years in prison and fines 

  • More than 860 people have so far been arrested in connection to the riot

Geoffrey Samuel Shough, 38, was arrested in Austin March 1 and was charged with civil disorder and related offenses, the Department of Justice said.  

Court documents say Shough was among the rioters that day and was captured on video waving a Texas flag. Investigators additionally said he was wearing a jacket over body armor. He was also wearing a ballistic-style helmet, goggles and hard-knuckle gloves.

The DOJ claims Shough was among the first rioters to breach a line of uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officers who were attempting to keep people out of the building.

Investigators further said Shough, after helping rioters overwhelm police, “engaged in a very animated conversation with one or more of the officers.”

During his plea hearing, Shough acknowledged telling officers that they “should go home.”

Shough is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 8. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for civil disorder as well as potential financial penalties.

In the 19 months since the insurrection, more than 860 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states in connection to it. More than 260 of them are charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.