Cameron Hess attempting to re-gain access to the Capitol building after police shot pepper spray bullets and pushed rioters out.
Federal prison time for Pennsylvania man at Capitol on January 6, 2021
Cameron Hess impeded officers as they tried to clear the U.S. Capitol of rioters
-
Jordan Wilkie/WITF
Cameron Hess attempting to re-gain access to the Capitol building after police shot pepper spray bullets and pushed rioters out.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Cameron Hess now lives in Lancaster.
A central Pennsylvania man was sentenced Monday to nine months in federal prison with an additional three years of supervised release for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Cameron Hess was arrested in March last year on charges of assaulting and impeding officers and storming the Capitol, according to federal court documents. On October 6, Hess pleaded guilty to felony civil disorder for impeding officers. The remaining charges were dropped.
Federal Judge Royce C. Lamberth sentenced Hess, who will be allowed to surrender to federal prison rather than being taken into custody at the hearing. In addition to his prison and supervision time, Hess is ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
The maximum punishment Hess could have received is five years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and three years of supervised release.
Two of his high school friends tipped off the FBI that Hess was present on January 6, leading to his arrest, according to the criminal complaint filed in federal court. The FBI used Hess’ social media profiles, U.S. Capitol CCTV, police body camera footage, and footage from news organizations to identify Hess and track his movements that day.
According to the criminal complaint, Hess “was observed inside the Capitol building for 7 minutes including the assault against police at the entrance.”
The FBI also used Hess’ phone number and a subpoena to confirm his presence at the Capitol.
LNP|Lancaster Online reported Hess moved to Lancaster County last year but was living in Cleona, Lebanon County, when he and a friend traveled to the nation’s capital on Jan. 6.
The FBI has arrested and charged 96 Pennsylvanians in connection to Jan. 6, according to the NPR database tracking the criminal investigations. In at least 72 of those cases, defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. None has been acquitted, and three cases have been dismissed because the defendants died prior to trial or plea.
The number of Pennsylvanians arrested for their involvement is third most in the country, behind only Florida and Texas. The attack was part of an effort to try to keep former president Donald Trump in power — even though he lost the 2020 election.
The Purple Buck Newsletter
Get insights into WITF’s newsroom and an invitation to join in the pursuit of trustworthy journalism.
