CANTON, Ohio — A Canton man has pled guilty to his role in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
According to a release, 55-year-old John Douglas Wright pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding. Wright is alleged to have organized two charter buses that he owned to travel to Washington on the day of the riot. The buses ultimately transported approximately 100 people and were then parked at Union Station in Washington.
From there, Wright and the group proceeded to walk to the U.S. Capitol, where he illegally entered the grounds. Wright is alleged to have been a part of a group of people that pushed against a metal barricade against federal law enforcement officers in an attempt to break through the security perimeter and advance towards the Capitol.
After gaining entry once a crowd of people broke through the barrier as he stopped to catch his breath, Wright walked through the Rotunda, took video, posted a video to Facebook Live and smoked a cigarette before leaving. Wright is also alleged to have made posts about the incident on social media stating: “SET ON NICE BENCH IN ROTUNDA AND HAD A SMOKE,” “YESTERDAY WAS A PRACTICE RUN,” and “I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE HOME VISITS.”
Wright was arrested as a result of the incident on May 3, 2021, in Canton. As a result of his plea, he faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and potential financial penalties. He will be sentenced on Nov. 28, 2022.