Texas Man Sentenced on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON - A Texas man was sentenced today on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, related to his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol breach 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.

            Shane Jenkins, 45, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $5,176 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta. Jenkins was convicted of seven felonies and two misdemeanors, including assaulting law enforcement with a deadly or dangerous weapon, following a jury trial in the District of Columbia in March 2023.

            According to court documents and video evidence presented at sentencing, Jenkins traveled from his home in Houston to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, in order to attempt to hinder Congress' certification of the electoral college vote. Before traveling, Jenkins posted on social media about his plans for violence and specifically contemplated bringing deadly weapons. In one social media post, Jenkins wrote, "I honestly wish we could drag ole Chuck Nancy and killary out and give em what for" and "I sent him the pic, and I have some sog tomahawks and tactical blades can I take those?"

            As stated in his social media posts, Jenkins brought a "Sog" brand metal tomahawk axe to Washington D.C., which he carried in his backpack the next day and took to the Capitol.

            On Jan. 6, 2021, Jenkins attended a rally at the Ellipse and then went to the Capitol building. He arrived at the West side around 2:40 p.m. and joined the rioters on the West Plaza. At around 3:00 p.m., he climbed to the Lower West Terrace and moved towards the composite window to the left of the LWT tunnel. Here, members of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), assisted by officers from the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), were arrayed inside the Tunnel entrance, prohibiting rioters from advancing further into the building.

            Jenkins climbed up to stand on the windowsill, recording the scene with his cellphone. Having watched other rioters fail to enter the Capitol through the Tunnel, Jenkins took matters into his own hands. At approximately 3:45 p.m., Jenkins retrieved the tomahawk from his backpack and put on protective gloves. Jenkins then struck the windowpane nearest him six times with the spike end of the tomahawk, causing the pulverized glass to spray with every strike. While he was striking the window, another rioter interrupted him by pulling at his pant leg. Jenkins shouted angrily to the crowd, "Are we going in or not?" Jenkins then continued to rile up the crowd, telling other rioters, "Bro, we're going in that f— building one way or another" and "We paid for it; it's our f— building."

            Following Jenkins' lead, other rioters eventually succeeded in destroying the window, clearing the way for access into the building. Other rioters entered this room and, among other things, disassembled the wooden furniture inside so that parts and pieces could be used as weapons. Jenkins and other rioters used these items to attack the officers attempting to block the entrance to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel.

            At around 3:55 p.m., Jenkins moved from the window towards the mouth of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. Once he arrived, he waved other rioters forward as the crowd attempted to push a large flag into the Tunnel. When this effort failed, Jenkins pressed forward, shouting "Push," as the rioters around him used pepper spray on the officers. Jenkins continued to press against officers and force his way into the Tunnel for over ten minutes, leaving only after being pepper-sprayed directly in the face and head multiple times.

            At approximately 4:27 p.m., Jenkins grabbed one of the riot shields the other rioters had stolen from officers and carried it with him as he climbed the steps leading to the Tunnel. Jenkins joined other rioters in a concerted assault on the officers defending the Tunnel entrance. As other rioters also attacked, Jenkins hurled nine different objects at the officers, including a solid wooden desk drawer. In addition to the desk drawer, Jenkins threw a flagpole, a metal walking stick, and a broken wooden pole with a spear-like point at police in the Tunnel. After his ninth attack, Jenkins returned to the window ledge where he had been standing earlier, retrieved his backpack, and left the area.

            In the days and weeks after the riot, Jenkins took to social media to brag about his conduct at the Capitol, calling the police "trash" and confirming that his motive had been to interfere with the certification of the election. In a message sent to an associate following the events of January 6th, Jenkins wrote, "I have murder in my heart and head. I love you, I'm not over this election, as our president so eloquently stated yesterday bull—, I am sorry man, I wanna scream and cry at all the same time." He was arrested on March 5, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

            Jenkins was convicted of the following: corruptly obstructing an official proceeding of Congress; interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder; assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon; destruction of government property; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, all felonies. In addition to the felonies, Jenkins was convicted of misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. 

            This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.

            This case was investigated by the FBI's Houston and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Secret Service, the Architect of the Capitol, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 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.