Hudson Valley 'Proud Boy' Arrested On Capitol Riot Charges

SPARROW BUSH, NY — An Orange County man was arrested after being accused of acting to disrupt a joint session of the U.S. Congress held to ascertain and count the federal votes related to the 2020 presidential election, the Department of Justice has announced.

The United States Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia said that 31-year-old Walter Joseph Wentland, of Sparrow Bush, was arrested by the FBI on Dec. 12 on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Wentland was charged in a criminal complaint "with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building."

According to court documents, Wentland, a member of the Hudson Valley New York Proud Boys, was identified in open-source images and video footage, marching with other members of the local chapter toward the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.

Prosecutors say Wentland was identified marching in front of a row of assembled police officers inside the restricted perimeter of the Capitol, using a bullhorn, saying to police, "Where's your f— oath?;" "Your values mean nothing;" and "We used to back the blue, but now you’re Oathbreakers and we can’t stand you."

According to court documents, Wentland continued into the restricted perimeter toward a walkway near the northwest stairs of the Capitol. Around 1:59 p.m., a line of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers dressed in riot gear moved towards the Capitol to help in its defense. As the police officers walked by, Wentland allegedly engaged with multiple officers, including physically grabbing an officer. It is alleged that Wentland continued to engage with police and physically grabbed a second officer.

Prosecutors say that Wentland then moved onto the Upper West Terrace and entered the Capitol building through the Senate Wing Door around 2:26 p.m. Once inside, he headed down the hallway before he turned around and exited the building around 2:29 p.m. through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s New York and Washington Field Offices. Assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Since Jan. 6, 2021, over 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit the FBI tips website.