WASHINGTON (trfnews.i234.me) — At least five men with connections to North Dakota were among the more than 1,000 individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot who were pardoned by President Donald Trump after his inauguration for a second term on Monday.
Prosecutors filed motions to dismiss the cases of two men who had previously pleaded guilty but had not yet been sentenced.
- Rockne Earles, a former Oriska, North Dakota, resident at the time of the riot.
- Damian Johnston, once head of the North Dakota Young Republicans chapter and son of a state legislator from Kathryn.
The case of Fargo native Eric Zeis, indicted last year on five criminal counts including disorderly conduct and obstruction of police, was also dismissed Tuesday.
Two other individuals with local ties had already served short sentences:
- Jordan Stotts, who lived in Moorhead during the riot.
- Jack Johnson, of Detroit Lakes, who faced charges including disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and parading or demonstrating at the Capitol.
Prior to the pardon, Earles, 63, was the only individual among the group likely to face extended prison time. His charges included assaulting a Capitol police officer and throwing a Gatorade bottle at another officer’s head, a second offense categorized as an attempted assault with a potentially deadly weapon. Earles pleaded guilty to both charges in September 2021.
Earlier this month, Earles’ attorney requested a sentencing delay citing expectations of a Trump pardon. His sentencing was initially scheduled for January 10. Following the pardon announcement, a motion for his immediate release was filed Tuesday. However, as of Tuesday night, Earles remained listed as an inmate at the Central Detention Facility in Washington, D.C.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me