NJ Gym Owner To Plead Guilty To 2 Capitol Riot Charges Friday

NORTH JERSEY — Scott Fairlamb, the New Jersey gym owner who had been indicted on 12 counts in February for participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, plans to plead guilty on two counts this Friday in Federal Court.

Fairlamb's attorney Harley Briete said his client will plead guilty to assaulting a police officer and obstruction of an official proceeding at his upcoming hearing.

“He’s come forward and wants to assume responsibility,” Breite told Patch during a phone interview on Wednesday.

“He wants to take the path to continue a law-abiding life,” Breite added about Fairlamb, 44, who lived in Stockholm for a year before he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Breite said the government is recommending 51 months in prison, but on Fairlamb’s sentencing date, Breite plans to argue for less. Prior to the sentencing, Breite said he will prepare a sentencing memo for Judge Royce C. Lamberth’s and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Goemaat’s review.

On Prior Issues With Communication, Confinement

When asked if Breite has had an easier time communicating with Fairlamb, after telling Lamberth he hadn't been allowed to meet with Fairlamb in person as of June, Breite just said, “The situation has not improved and remains disappointing.”

He told the court during the June hearing, when he'd tried to schedule in-person meetings with Fairlamb, he's instead received pushback from the jail, which questioned the nature of Breite’s relationship with him, though the visit was outlined on his firm's letterhead. Breite, who said an “attorney-client visit would speak for itself,” said it’s the first time he’s undergone such questioning, which he called a “serious violation of not only attorney-client privilege, but it impedes upon the Constitutional Rights of all inmates, not just my client.”

Breite had also told Lamberth and Goematt at the last hearing that Fairlamb was confined 23.5 hours each day, something Breite said Wednesday has not changed; and other clients he's had on death row have spent more time out of their cells.

However, Breite emphasized that Fairlamb, who battles leukemia, has been in good health though.

He complimented Goematt and her concern for Fairlamb’s well-being, calling her “nothing less than extremely professional.”

RELATED: NJ Gym Owner Charged In Capitol Riot Spends 23.5 Hours In Cell
RELATED: Man With NJ Ties Charged With Assaulting Officer In Capitol Riots
RELATED: Morris Co. 'Proud Boy' Bragged About Role In Capitol Riot: DOJ
RELATED: Capitol Riot Probe Blocked Despite Fallen NJ Cop Family's Pleas
RELATED: NJ Man Charged With Destroying Evidence He Breached U.S. Capitol

Reporting contributed by Russ Crespolini.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.