'Anchorman' Actor Pleads Guilty To Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Felony

LOS ANGELES, CA — An actor known for his roles in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and "Bob's Burgers" pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges connected to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Jay Johnston, 55, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to a felony count of civil disorder. He's set to be sentenced Oct. 7 and faces up to five years in prison, according to court documents.

Johnson was near the front of the mob that gathered outside the Capitol. After police retreated from the building's West Plaza, Johnston and others pursued officers into a tunnel that leads into the Capitol, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Inside the tunnel, officers formed a protective line with riot shields in an effort to defend the Capitol from rioters. Other rioters handed Johnson a stolen U.S. Capitol police riot shield; he then participated in an effort to push against the police in the tunnel, prosecutors said.

The actor walked back toward the tunnel's entrance before turning around to participate in another group-push effort, in which the crowd called "Heave! Ho!" as it pushed against the police, according to prosecutors.

Johnson left the tunnel eight minutes after he first entered and handed another rioter the stolen police shield on his way out, prosecutors said.

Johnson voiced recurring character Jimmy Pesto in the first 11 seasons of the Fox animated series "Bob's Burgers." He was put on indefinite hiatus from the series later in 2021, after word of his involvement in the Capitol riots surfaced, Deadline reported.

The actor has also appeared in "Mr. Show with Bob and David," "Better Call Saul," "The Sarah Silverman Program" and "Anchorman" and its sequel.

Over 1,450 people have been charged across the country as part of prosecution efforts stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the Capitol. The investigation remains ongoing, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

City News Service contributed to this report.