FL Man Displayed Jan. 6 Weapon In Shadow Box: U.S. Dept. Of Justice

FLORIDA — A Florida man was convicted Tuesday of charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol building, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

John Joseph Richter, 39, of Port Charlotte was part of the mob that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress to count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

He was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, as well as several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, entering and remaining on the floor of Congress, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Richter will be sentenced on Aug. 9. He was arrested March 2, 2023, in Port Charlotte.

Leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, he made plans to travel to Washington, D.C., with a Kentucky man, Joseph Irwin, to obstruct the certification of the electoral votes. Irwin was also convicted of multiple charges.

In one text message, Richter sent Irwin a photo discussing the Electoral College certification process and former Vice President Mike Pence’s role in the certification, the DOJ said.

They discussed “the potential for violence and their roles,” according to the agency.

In one message, Irwin asked Richter, "Are we go[ing] open militia or innocent/ready bystander."

Richter responded, "Well I think we are gonna be in a huge crowd mostly. So we will have to be opportunists most likely. Gnome sayin? I like the ready bystander wildcard approach myself."

They also talked about bringing supplies to Washington, D.C., such as flagpoles, goggles, battery banks and full-face gas masks, the DOJ said.

In one message, Richter shared a photo of a metal pointed flagpole he intended to bring to Washington, D.C. Richter explained that he would bring the all-black American flag because the "all black flag means no quarter will be given. It's time to do patriot (expletive)."

Irwin also discussed bringing a wooden pole that he inscribed with a black American flag. He said that his "wooden stick is heavy as (expletive)."

On Jan. 6, 2021, the two men attended the "Stop the Steal" rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and afterward marched to the U.S. Capitol building, carrying their previously discussed poles in hand. Richter carried a black American flag with a pointed metal tip, and Irwin carried a heavy wooden pole, the DOJ said.

After reaching the Capitol grounds, Irwin and Richter ascended to the upper west terrace and approached a group of police officers that had just arrived on Capitol grounds. Irwin approached the police officers while wielding his wooden pole at them. Irwin repeatedly yelled at the officers to "Go home!" and then aggressively smashed his pole on the ground in a threatening manner at the police officers, breaking it into two pieces.

Next, Irwin and Richter made their way to the Senate Wing door. Richter disassembled his pole into two pieces and handed the piece of the pole with a metal tip to Irwin, according to the DOJ.

From there, the two continued wielding their poles as they watched rioters break into the building and scream, "Let us in! Let us in! Let us in!"

Richter and Irwin watched as other rioters smashed the windows and broke into the Capitol through the Parliamentarian's door. At approximately 2:43 p.m. — just minutes after the door had been violently breached — they entered the Capitol building, banging their poles on the ground.

The two men joined a mob of rioters that moved through the Capitol and eventually made their way to the Senate floor, where the former vice president and members of Congress had just been evacuated from under an emergency order.

As the rioters flooded onto the Senate floor and rustled through the vice president's desk, Irwin banged his flagpole on the ground and yelled, “This is ours right here! This is our house! This is what the court do when the court take it! Don’t give it back to them now!”

Irwin and Richter cheered with other rioters to celebrate “taking” the chamber, sat at senators’ desks and had their photographs taken by a fellow rioter while brandishing their poles, the DOJ said.

The men left the Senate Chamber and the Capitol building after Metropolitan Police Department Officers eventually directed them out.

After the Capitol riot, the two continued to celebrate their success in halting the Congressional proceeding. Court documents say that Irwin framed the sharp wooden pole in a shadow box and referred to it as a "relic."