PA Man Convicted Of Capitol Riot Charges

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Western Pennsylvania man was among three defendants convicted in U.S. District Court of felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Peter J. Schwartz, 49, of Uniontown, Fayette County, was found guilty of four counts of felony
assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers using a dangerous weapon; interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding and related charges.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, on Jan. 6, 2021, Schwartz and his wife Shelly Stallings - who pleaded guilty in August, traveled to Washington D.C. and were at the area of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol Building. While at the front of the police line at around 2:28 pm, Schwartz threw a folding chair at officers, later claiming to a friend that he “started a riot” by “throwing the first chair.”

He then stole Washington Metropolitan Police Department duffle bags full of pepper spray canisters, which he distributed to other members of the mob, including his wife, to deploy them against the police. Wielding a large MK-46 canister and carrying a wooden tire thumper, Schwartz began indiscriminately spraying O.C. spray at any retreating police officers he could find, according to the Justice Department.

Schwartz faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers using a dangerous weapon. He also faces a maximum of 20 years for the charge of obstruction of an official proceeding. The charge of interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder carries a maximum sentence of five years.

A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled but is expected to occur early next year.

Also convicted on various charges related to their participation in the insurrection were Jeffrey Scott Brown, 56, of Santa Ana, CA, and Markus Maly, 48, of Fincastle, VA.

Since the Capitol breach, nearly 900 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes
related to the insurrection, including over 275 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.