Kentucky Man Sentenced For Felony Charge Related to Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Defendant Joined Confrontation With Officers at Lower West Terrace

            WASHINGTON – A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for a felony charge stemming from his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Roger Kent Baugh, 51, of Louisville, KY, pleaded guilty on October 21, 2022, in the District of Columbia to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg ordered $2,000 restitution and 24 months of supervised release.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Baugh and a friend, Mark Mazza, illegally entered the Capitol grounds. Baugh was aware that day that Mazza was armed with a firearm. At approximately 2:50 p.m., both men moved up a staircase and to the West Front Terrace. About 20 minutes later, Baugh moved to the mouth of a tunnel area leading into the Capitol Building. While there, he observed numerous acts of violence against law enforcement officers attempting to secure the building. Baugh entered the tunnel and assisted other rioters who were pushing against the officers. He then participated in “heave-ho” efforts to apply significant physical force and pressure on the officers to remove them from the doorway. Baugh finally retreated from the rioters who were actively resisting officers in the tunnel. But he returned moments later for a second effort. Officers pushed rioters back, and Baugh finally left the tunnel area at approximately 3:18 p.m.

            Baugh subsequently falsely denied entering the tunnel area or being involved in any violence against officers, in a November 2021 interview with the FBI, and during another interview, in March 2022, with an Assistant U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            Mazza, 57, of Shelbyville, Indiana, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2022, to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license. He was sentenced on October 21, 2022 to 60 months in prison.

            This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

            The case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police with valuable assistance from the FBI’s Louisville, Washington, and Indianapolis Field Offices, as well as the Metropolitan Police and Shelbyville, Indiana Police Departments.

            In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

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