Georgia Man Who Attacked Multiple Officers On Jan.6 Pleads Guilty: DOJ

ATLANTA, GA — A Locust Grove man accused of violently assaulting officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection pleaded guilty Tuesday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jack Wade Whitton, 32, is accused of assaulting law enforcement with a "dangerous weapon" in the breach where attackers tried to stop Congress from counting and certifying electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election in favor of President Joe Biden, who beat Republican Donald Trump, the incumbent.

Whitton pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia. He was charged with act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

He was also charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon and engaging in physical violence.

Whitton faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, as well as potential fines, the DOJ said. Whitton is one of more than 870 people who have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the Capitol breach, the DOJ said.

According to the department, he was part of a mob that confronted officers at the Archway leading into the Capitol Building from the Lower West Terrace.

The DOJ said Whitton kicked a Metropolitan Police officer that another rioter knocked down during the insurrection. Afterwards, Whitton grabbed another Metropolitan officer and dragged him down a set of steps, the DOJ said.

Other rioters joined in, dragging the officer into the crowd and beating him with weapons, including with a baton and a flagpole, the DOJ said.

The DOJ said Whitton kicked more officers about 20 minutes later. He did not stop after being asked to, proceeding to hit a riot shield belonging to a Metropolitan officer, the DOJ said.

He yelled at the officers, "You're gonna die tonight," the DOJ said.

Whitton is accused of later climbing a wall near the Lower West and Upper West terraces, throwing an object at officers and attempting to punch them.

DOJ officials said Whitton will be sentenced on March 6, 2023.