California Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A California man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge related to his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 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.

            Patrick Allen Bournes, 60, of Santa Clara, California, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to one count of civil disorder, a felony. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras will sentence Bournes on June 28, 2024.  

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Bournes was among a mob that illegally engaged in a physical confrontation with law enforcement officers near the Lower West Terrace Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol building. The Tunnel was created by the construction of a stage for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration and was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6^th. Over the course of more than two hours, members of the mob threw items at police, struck police with items, sprayed police with chemical irritants, pushed against the police, and stole items from the police defending the Tunnel.

            At approximately 3:03 p.m., Bournes entered the Tunnel and made his way through the crowd toward the police line. At one point, while inside the Tunnel, Bournes reached his arm up and helped to push a police shield back from the police line and out toward the mob of rioters. After reaching the police line, Bournes stood among other individuals and aided as the group physically pressed against the police line. Even when other rioters were leaving the Tunnel, Bournes fought to stay in and continued to press forward against the police line in a concerted effort.

            Court documents say that at one point, while still in the Tunnel and near the police line, Bournes appeared to shout, “TRAITORS!” multiple times in the direction of the police. He then moved closer to the police line and stood near the location of a “shield wall” which had been made by other rioters using multiple stolen U.S. Capitol Police riot shields. Shortly after the “shield wall” was established, Bournes moved behind a shield with another individual and used it to press against the crowd, who, in turn, pressed against law enforcement officers.

            Bournes exited the Tunnel at approximately 3:11 p.m.

            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 Northern District of California.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Francisco and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            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. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.