North Carolina Proud Boys Leader Pleads Guilty To Jan. 6 Charges

WASHINGTON, DC — The leader of the North Carolina chapter of the far-right group Proud Boys pleaded guilty this week to charges stemming from his involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Charles Donohoe, 34, of Kernersville, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, the U.S. Department of Justice announced in a release.

As part of the plea agreement, officials said Donohoe also agreed to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation.

Donohoe joined the Proud Boys in 2018. On Jan. 6, 2021, he was a fourth-degree member of the Proud Boys, the highest rank within the organization.

According to court documents, the Proud Boys describes itself as a "pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world, aka Western Chauvinists."

In December 2020, Enrique Tarrio, former Proud Boys national chairman, formed a new Proud Boys chapter known as the Ministry of Self Defense, which focused on planning and executing national rallies. The first objective of the Ministry of Self Defense was to plan a rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., officials said.

According to court documents, Donohoe was the leader of this new chapter, which eventually grew to at least 65 members.

According to the Department of Justice, Donohoe said he was aware at least two days before Jan. 6 that the Ministry of Self Defense’s leaders were talking about storming the Capitol. According to Donohoe, the group thought that storming the Capitol and using force and violence would achieve their goal of stopping Congress from certifying Joe Biden's presidential election win.

On Jan. 6, Donohoe was part of a group of more than 100 Proud Boys who marched to the U.S. Capitol. At approximately 1 p.m., the group arrived at the Capitol and breached the barriers surrounding the Capitol grounds, officials said.

According to court documents, Donohoe threw two water bottles at a line of law enforcement officers who were attempting to prevent the mob’s advance in the West Plaza at the Capitol building. Donohoe then joined the crowd and advanced up the concrete stairs toward the Capitol, ultimately entering the building.

Hours later, officials said, Donohoe posted messages to the Ministry of Self Defense Leadership Group celebrating the group’s actions that day.

Donohoe was arrested on March 11, 2021. He was among six defendants, including Tarrio and Dominic Pezzola of New York, indicted on conspiracy and other charges. The other men have pleaded not guilty.

Donohoe faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to eight years in prison on the assault charge. No sentencing date has been set.