Evergreen Reporter

An Ohio man was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

William Dunfee, 59, of Frazeysburg, Ohio, was sentenced on September 19, 2024, to 30 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. Judge Walton sentenced Dunfee on one felony offense of civil disorder and a misdemeanor offense of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

Dunfee was convicted of two felony offenses: obstruction of an official proceeding or aiding and abetting civil disorder, along with the misdemeanor offense following a bench trial before Judge Walton on January 22, 2024.

According to court documents, Dunfee is a pastor at New Beginnings Ministry Warsaw in Warsaw, Ohio. On December 27, 2020, he posted a video on social media via the Ministry’s Facebook page telling his congregation that “The Government, the tyrants...they fear you. And they should." He further stated that settling differences at the ballot had not worked out and added: "January 4th through 6th … Are you ready?”

On January 6, Dunfee illegally entered Capitol grounds using a bullhorn to exhort the crowd. In one video filmed at the Capitol, Dunfee tells the mob: “This election has been stolen right out from underneath our noses...Today is the day these elected officials realize that we are no longer playing games.” Later he stated: “We will stand up for our country...for our freedoms...for our president.”

At approximately 1:35 p.m., Dunfee announced to police officers that they wanted Donald Trump and if Trump did not come forward they would take "our house." Minutes later at around 1:44 p.m., he pushed a metal barricade against U.S. Capitol Police officers who were attempting to hold their line. He pushed against it again around 1:58 p.m., moved to the front entrance crowd but walked away as others entered the building.

Surveillance cameras captured Dunfee’s actions that day showing him physically resisting U.S. Capitol Police by pushing against a metal barricade and entering restricted areas.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., alongside assistance from DOJ's National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and other regional offices including Southern District of Ohio's U.S Attorney's Office.

Investigations were conducted by FBI's Cincinnati Field Office with assistance from Washington Field Office along with support from U.S Capitol Police & Metropolitan Police Department.

In total since January sixth more than fifteen hundred individuals have been charged across nearly all fifty states for crimes related to this event including over five hundred sixty individuals charged with assaulting law enforcement which remains ongoing investigations currently underway

Anyone with tips can call FBI hotline or visit their website for more information.