Dutchess County Man Pleads Guilty To Taking Part In Jan. 6 Riot

PAWLING, NY — A Dutchess County man admitted he took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia said William Vogel of Pawling pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, knowingly engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

The FBI said Vogel shot video of the riot and posted it to two Snapchat accounts and was “very vocal” about being at the Capitol.

Authorities said a license plate reader captured Vogel in his car traveling to and from the nation’s capital.

The complaint against Vogel said there were phone records linking him to a Facebook account that had photos of him during the riot. He also communicated with a Facebook friend about the events of that day.

The FBI said, on Jan. 7, 2021, Vogel sent another Facebook friend videos of his actions taken the previous day and confirmed to that friend that he had taken the video.

Prosecutors said Vogel also had a conversation with a third Facebook friend in which he verified he was in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and shared a video taken from the top of the west front steps of the Capital building facing Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The two talked about Vogel’s involvement during the riot and his possible criminal culpability.

He faces up to six months in prison when he is sentenced in June, News 12 reported.