Dillon man sentenced to 2 years in prison for role in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach

A Dillon man was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Thursday for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the United States Capitol building, following his earlier conviction on one felony and four misdemeanor offenses. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Henry Phillip “Hank” Muntzer, 55, will be sentenced to a year of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution in addition to his two-year prison term. His sentencing occurred more than 3 ½ years after his original arrest on Jan. 18, 2021, roughly two weeks after the Capitol incident.

Muntzer was initially convicted of two felonies, obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, in February. A judge also found him guilty of four misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted facility or grounds, disorderly and disruptive behavior in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and marching, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

However, after the United States Supreme Court ruled in June that some obstruction of an official proceeding counts could not be used to charge people who entered restricted Capitol grounds that day, the government asked the court to overturn his conviction on that felony count at his sentencing.

According to court papers, Muntzer flew to Washington, D.C., with pals on January 6 to join then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally ahead of Congress’ vote to certify the electoral votes that would elect Joe Biden as the next president. Trump and his campaign held the rally in an effort to falsely claim that the election was “stolen” and that he was the actual winner. According to court documents, Muntzer joined the mob that had broken through police barriers onto the Capitol plaza following the rally. Muntzer accompanied the rioters up the Capitol stairs to an upper terrace as they continued to press for the Capitol doors.

While on the terrace, he filmed films in which he mentioned taking “the Capitol by storm” before entering the building. According to the authorities, he went through the Capitol Rotunda toward the Senate chambers and assisted other rioters in pushing past officers who were blocking their approach. He also assisted in pushing back against officers who were blocking a different entryway leading up to another terrace inside the Capitol. According to the charging paperwork, one officer was shoved down the staircase.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, Muntzer was inside the Capitol for about 40 minutes, refused to leave, and “was one of the very last rioters present in the area.” Muntzer is one among over 1,500 people countrywide accused with charges related to the Capitol breach and disturbance that day. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Salt Lake City, Helena Resident Agency, and Washington field offices, with help from the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Capitol Police.