On January 6, a man dressed as “Captain Moroni” pleads guilty

Nathaniel Wayne Entrekin, the Arizona man who dressed as Book of Mormon Captain Moroni during the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol breach, pleaded guilty Friday to a single misdemeanor in federal court in Washington, D.C. DC

• Why it matters: Entrekin, 48, becomes at least the 174th person to plead guilty to a crime related to the Capitol breach, according to an NPR database. He told an interviewer on January 6, “I am Captain Moroni. I am the William Wallace of the Book of Mormon.
• Federal prosecutors have charged 733 people, according to a Justice Department database. New cases continue to be filed.
• Violators injured more than 140 police officers on January 6, 2021. They caused more than $1.5 million in damage to the Capitol.

The Plea Agreement: Entrekin agreed to plead guilty to a federal Class B misdemeanor of marching, demonstrating, or picketing a Capitol building in exchange for federal prosecutors dropping four other charges.

• Entrekin appeared Friday via video for the plea agreement hearing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
• Judge Florence Pan asked Entrekin, “Did you enter the Capitol compound on January 6? Entrekin replied, “Yes, your honor.”
• “Guilty, your honor,” Entrekin said Friday when asked by the judge how he pleaded.

Next : Entrekin faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison, a $5,000 fine and five years probation.

• Pan ordered Entrekin to appear for a sentencing hearing by video on April 22.
• Entrekin’s attorney, Deputy Federal Public Defender Dani Jahn, said that as part of the plea deal, Entrekin would pay $500 in restitution.
• The judge said Entrekin displayed exemplary conduct in complying with the terms of his release after his July 15 arrest in Cottonwood, Arizona. She agreed to allow him to remain free pending sentencing.
• Entrekin cannot travel outside of Arizona or the United States without permission. He cannot enter the District of Columbia except for court business and meetings with his attorney. He is also not allowed to own a weapon.

Rollback: Entrekin stood out in national television coverage of the Capitol Breach because he wore a gladiator costume and posed as Captain Moroni, according to a 27-page affidavit from an FBI agent. The Book of Mormon, one of the books of scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) describes Captain Moroni raising armies to fight tyrants around 72 BC.

• The affidavit included footage showing Entrekin walking through the gates of the Capitol at least twice and footage from his phone showing looting.
• Entrekin said he viewed his time at the Capitol as “solemn” and “revered,” according to the FBI affidavit. He also said he decided to leave as soon as he saw broken glass and looting. The FBI said the video evidence “at times confirmed and at times contradicted the defendant’s assertions.”
• “In all photos and videos of the defendant, he wears a wooden peg with a piece of white cloth attached. The cloth appears to bear the following handwritten text: ‘IN MEMORY OF OUR GOD, OUR RELIGION AND FREEDOM, AND OUR PEACE, Wives AND CHILDREN ALMA 46:12,” the FBI affidavit said.

FBI

The case: A federal judge issued a warrant for his arrest on July 14 and he was arrested the following day. Federal prosecutors filed five charges against Entrekin on November 18.

• Entrekin pleaded not guilty to all five counts on December 8, when his attorney asked the court to schedule a plea deal hearing.
• Federal prosecutor Sean Murphy agreed to drop the final four counts against Entrekin upon sentencing. These counts are: Entering and Staying in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Entering and Staying in Certain Rooms of the Capitol Building, and Disorderly Conduct in a capitol building.