Clay County man charged in Jan. 6 capitol breach

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— A man from Carbon, Indiana turned himself in to the Federal Courthouse in Indianapolis Wednesday due to his alleged involvement in the January 6 breach at the capitol, according to a news release.

The news release from the U.S. Department of Justice states that 34-year-old Nicholas Scott Ingram Hofer, is “charged in a criminal complaint filed in D.C. with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder.” Along with the felonies Hofer is also being charged with multiple misdemeanors.

“Hofer is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in restricted grounds or buildings, disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted grounds or buildings, engaging in physical violence in restricted grounds or buildings, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings,” according to the press release.

The release states that Hofer was one of the many identified among the rioters in the West Plaza during the January 6 breach. Hofer has been identified through several photos in the release as being one of the rioters on January 6. He is alleged to have been one of the rioters toward the front of the crowd that pushed through police lines and barricades. According to the release, Hofer was identified as one of the individuals who entered through the Senate Wing Door after rioters broke two windows to get in and then broke the door open to let others in.

The release stated that after Hofer was in he allegedly picked up and threw a wooden exhibit sign. After this Hofer and other rioters are alleged to have tried to breach the East Rotunda Door and repeatedly assaulted a small group of USCP officers there. The release stated that Hofer reached over fellow rioters and with assistance from them ripped a riot shield from an officer’s grasp. Hofer then passed the shield into the crowd and it disappeared as another rioter sprayed an “orange-colored chemical irritant” into the face of the officer.

The release states in an open source video that Hofer can be seen pushing against officers while rioters forced their way back into the capitol. Hofer is also alleged to have placed himself at the front of the line of rioters after entering the Rotunda, standing for 10 minutes refusing to leave before officers forced him out. In total, he spent around 38 minutes in the capitol, according to the release.

The 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. Hofer will make his first appearance in the Southern District of Indiana.

The release stated that in the 43 months since the breach more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly every state including 550 of those with felony charges.