Delaware Man Gets 2 Years in Prison for Breaching Capitol With Dad on Jan. 6

Protesters supporting U.S. President Donald Trump gather near the east front door of the U.S. Capitol after groups breached the building's security in Washington on Jan. 06, 2021. Win McNamee/Getty Images

On Oct 24, a man from Delaware was sentenced to 2 years in prison for misdemeanor and felony offenses related to his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Stop the Steal rally at the U.S. Capitol.

Hunter Seefried, 24, and his father, Kevin Seefried, 53, were among the first to approach the building near the Senate wing door.

The Seefrieds attended a speech by President Donald Trump near the Ellipse before heading to the U.S. Capitol. Hunter Seefried was seen clearing a large piece of glass from one of the windows of the building to get inside.

After 2:13 p.m, they entered the Capitol. Kevin Seefried was photographed parading with a Confederate flag inside the compound.

“While in the building, both defendants were part of a larger group of individuals who verbally confronted several U.S. Capitol Police officers near the entrance to the Senate Chambers,” an Oct. 25 press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ) stated.

Both men just stayed inside the compound for around 20 minutes and left the Capitol building at 2:36 p.m.

The Seefrieds were arrested on Jan. 14, 2021, in Delaware. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden found the two guilty of felony and misdemeanor offenses last year. Instead of having their case heard by a jury, the men chose to have a bench trial, which is decided by a judge.

Both men have been charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and one count of depredation of government property.

Court Proceedings

Initially, the DOJ sought a 64-month prison sentence for Hunter Seefried. Edson Bostic, his attorney, asked for leniency arguing that the young man was “caught up in the momentum of the crowds.”

Bostic also noted in court papers that the son never hurt or threatened anyone at the Capitol, calling him a decent man.

“Hunter is a decent, hard-working and caring young man, who was misled and got caught up in the unfortunate events of January 6, 2021,” the attorney stated.

“He is very remorseful and wished he could relive and change his behavior that day.”

Bostic appealed for probation and home detention instead of prison time.

McFadden eventually deemed the DOJ’s proposed sentencing “overly harsh.”

“I believe you are a good man who messed up badly,” the judge stated. He attributed the younger Seefrieds impulsiveness to his age.

The court ruled that he must also spend a year on supervised release and pay a $2,000 restitution fee. The father is set to be sentenced in January next year.

In the 21 months since the Jan. 6 breach, over 880 individuals from almost 50 states have been arrested, including more than 270 people who are charged with impeding or assaulting law enforcement.

Around 3,000 people are estimated to have entered the Capitol or assaulted law enforcement officials on Jan. 6. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter told the judge that the DOJ might eventually bring charges against 2,000 individuals.

Janita Kan and Naveen Athrappully contributed to this report.