Ohio man latest insurrectionist to be jailed for assaulting police during Jan. 6 Capitol Riot
Image credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia)
This week, Matthew Honigford, 31, of Delphos, Ohio, was sentenced to 19 months behind bars after previously pleading guilty to assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others that day disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
In addition to his prison term, Honigford must also serve 24 months of supervised release and pay $2,000 in restitution. On February 21, he pleaded guilty to the felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.
Honigford was a former member of the Ohio National Guard who went AWOL after Biden won the 2020 presidential election, according to NBC News. During the insurrection, he participated in the most violent of those attacks perpetrated against law enforcement officials that were on the scene defending the Capitol against the rioters.
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Background: Honigford traveled from his home in Ohio to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., near the Washington Monument. After the rally, Honigford made his way to the Southwest Plaza of the U.S. Capitol building with a large group of rioters. At approximately 2:30 p.m., Honigford was positioned at the front of the crowd of rioters that had breached a police line and gained access to a set of stairs on the Southwest Plaza. There, rioters overwhelmed police, causing the officers to retreat. The mob, with Honigford at the front, pursued.
On the Southwest Plaza, body-worn camera footage shows Honigford holding a flagpole horizontally in front of his body with both hands. He is then seen pushing the flagpole into a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer’s chest area, and a struggle ensued. Honigford then advanced with the crowd to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol. The crowd then assembled on the steps in front of a police line that officers had formed with metal bike racks to act as a barrier against the crowd.
From approximately 2:44 to 2:46 p.m., Honigford repeatedly touched or attempted to touch several MPD officers in the police line with his hands, stating he was praying for them. When officers asked Honigford to stop, Honigford responded, “How am I supposed to bless you guys?” Honigford continued to reach his hands out toward the officers until other rioters told him to stop, and he turned toward them to say, “I’m trying to f— pray, guys.”
At about 2:46 p.m., Honigford grabbed a metal bike rack barricade and used his body to push it against the police line. An MPD officer pulled on Honigford’s jacket in an attempt to prevent him from pushing the barrier; however, Honigford leaned away and kicked the bike rack against the officer.
The FBI arrested Honigford on November 21, 2023, in Ohio.
In the 43 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia)
(Matthew Honigford booking photo, Image credit: Lucas County Corrections Center)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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