Harford County man gets one of the longest prison sentences yet for his part in the Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

A Harford County, Maryland, man was sentenced this week on multiple felony and misdemeanor convictions for his actions during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.  Christopher Michael Alberts, 35, of Pylesville, Maryland, was sentenced to one of the longest prison terms yet levied against convicted insurrectionists – 84 months in federal prison – after he was found guilty of nine charges that included six felonies, following his jury trial in the District of Columbia before the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Cooper ordered 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $2,000.  Alberts served in the Virginia National Guard from 2005 to 2011 and was deployed to Iraq for one year in 2007 and 2008.

According to court documents, Alberts arrived at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, wearing a body armor vest containing metal plates, a two-way radio with a throat mic, and a military backpack containing eight bungee cords, a flashlight, a ski mask, a meal-ready-to-eat kit, a first aid kit, military trousers, and a pocketknife. That day, Alberts carried with him, in a holster, a 9-millimeter pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and an additional bullet in the chamber. 

Alberts also wore a separate holster containing an additional 12 rounds of ammunition, which included “hollow point” bullets.

A prosecutor, Shalin Nohria, said Alberts fully loaded a magazine with hollow point and high-pressure rounds — and had an extra round in the gun’s chamber — because he wanted to be “as lethal as possible” on Jan. 6.  ~ U.S. Fire News

Alberts attended former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally and then walked over  to the Capitol building, yelling on his way that he was “taking over the Capitol.”  Evidence at trial showed that Alberts arrived at the Capitol grounds at or near the time of the first breach of the Peace Circle at 12:57 p.m. and traveled through multiple bike rack barriers, past snow fencing and “area closed” signs. Separating other rioters from outmanned U.S. Capitol Police Officers at around 1:05 p.m., Alberts told the rioters, “we’ll get them soon.” Alberts donned a gas mask at around 1:20 p.m.

At 1:48 p.m., Alberts ascended a metal bike rack to reach a banister of the Northwest Steps leading to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace. Six minutes later, protected by his gas mask and body armor, Alberts grabbed an officer and then charged up the staircase holding a wooden pallet, making physical contact with the U.S. Capitol Police Officers defending the steps. He was the first rioter to reach a middle landing of the Northwest Steps.

Although his ascent to the Upper West Terrace was briefly stopped, Alberts was one of the first 15 rioters to reach the Upper West Terrace level at around 2:10 p.m. Other rioters nearby soon broke into the Capitol Building, but Alberts was sidelined for 30 to 45 minutes as the pepper spray used by officers on the steps began to seep into his gas mask.

Alberts then spent over two hours just steps from the Capitol Building, yelling at Metropolitan Police Department officers and calling them as “treasonous” and “communists,” alleging that the officers broke their oaths, and complaining that they were preventing him and his fellow rioters from doing their “duty to overthrow the government and reinstate a new government for the people.”

Alberts yelled at them, “y’all wanted the war. You asked for it. Y’all got it.”

Alberts remained on Capitol Grounds over three more hours, continuing to yell at National Guard troops and uniformed officers from various jurisdictions. At 7:22 p.m., while finally clearing the Capitol Grounds of rioters, an officer observed a bulge on Alberts’s right hip, and Alberts was found to be in possession of the loaded firearm and arrested.

At sentencing, Judge Cooper explained that Alberts was no mere bystander to the events of January 6, but that he was a major participant who played a significant role in the eventual breach of the Capitol Building because he was the first rioter to physically confront an officer at the top of the Northwest Steps. Judge Cooper determined that Alberts anticipated the events of January 6 and prepared for them by protecting himself from law enforcement. Rejecting Alberts’ argument that he was a “protector,” Judge Cooper stated, “you certainly didn’t help the police.”

Prosecutors initially asked for 10-year prison sentence for Alberts.  

Charges:

On November 10, 2021, a federal grand jury charged Alberts with the following ten counts:

• Count One – Civil Disorder
• Count Two – Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers
• Count Three – Entering or Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon or Firearm
• Count Four – Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon or Firearm
• Count Five – Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Count Six – Unlawful Possession of a Firearm on Capitol Grounds or Buildings
• Count Seven – Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds
• Count Eight – Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Building
• Count Nine – Carrying a Pistol Without a License Outside Home or Place of Business
• Count Ten – Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device

On December 21, 2022, the Court granted the Government’s Consent Motion to Dismiss Count Ten of the Second Superseding Indictment.  On April 19, 2023, Alberts was convicted of the remaining offenses.

At sentencing, Judge Cooper applied a sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice, identifying five instances in which Alberts testified falsely at trial. Judge Cooper said that Alberts had “spun a story” on the stand that contradicted video evidence and said that he had heard no remorse from Alberts about what he had done or acceptance of responsibility for his actions. Judge Cooper also rejected claims that Alberts’ prosecution and conviction violated his First and Second Amendment rights, stating that the case was about a man who was trying to overturn the results of a free and fair election.

“In this country, you can’t make your voice heard by joining a mob to overrun the Capitol,” Judge Cooper said, “That’s not legitimate democracy. That’s mob rule.”

In the 30 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

For more on Alberts, see the video accompanying this article.

(Source and inline images:  U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram