2 NY Proud Boys Plead Not Guilty In D.C. Riot

BEACON, NY — Two Proud Boys from New York, one living in the Hudson Valley, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to interfering with police officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot.

The not-guilty pleas for William Pepe, 31, of Beacon, and Dominic Pezzola, 43, of Rochester, were entered by their attorneys in federal court, USA Today reported.

They were indicted Jan. 29 in a District of Columbia federal court on charges of conspiracy, civil disorder, unlawfully entering restricted buildings or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted buildings or grounds.

Pepe and Pezzola were originally charged on Jan. 12 and Jan. 15, respectively.

Pepe had called out sick to attend the events of Jan. 6. He works at the Brewster Metro-North rail yard.

Pezzola is a former boxer and a Marine. He was mentioned a few times Wednesday during the House impeachment managers presentation to the U.S. Senate.

Their indictment said the men engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct, influence and interfere with law enforcement officers who were acting to protect the Capitol and its grounds Jan. 6.

Prosecutors said they took actions to evade and render ineffective protective equipment that police deployed, including removing temporary barriers and stealing property belonging to the Capitol police.

Pezzola was accused of a Capitol police officer and ripping away his riot shield. He could then be seen on video using that shield to smash a window at the Capital, according to prosecutors.