South Carolina Man Sentenced for Assaulting Officers During Capitol Breach
WASHINGTON—A South Carolina resident has been sentenced to prison for his role in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, which interrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
Christopher George Rockey, 54, from Cross, South Carolina, received an 18-month prison sentence, along with 24 months of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Rockey had previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers on June 12, 2024.
Court documents reveal that Rockey traveled from South Carolina to Washington, D.C., to attend a speech by the former President at the Ellipse. He then moved towards the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol building, entering through the Senate Wing Door at approximately 2:23 p.m. Inside, Rockey proceeded to the Rotunda and towards the House Chamber, where he and other rioters confronted a line of police officers attempting to halt their advance. Despite police efforts, the crowd pushed past. Rockey exited the Capitol via the East Front House Door at around 2:44 p.m.
Following his exit, Rockey regrouped with other rioters on the Upper Terrace’s north side. As law enforcement began clearing the area at approximately 4:35 p.m., Rockey approached the officers, disregarding their commands. He then grabbed a police officer’s riot shield, pulling it down and potentially exposing the officer to harm. Court documents further state that Rockey also grabbed a police baton and pulled down another officer’s riot shield.
The documents indicate that Rockey’s actions were part of the mob’s efforts to prevent law enforcement from clearing the Upper Terrace of rioters.
The FBI arrested Rockey on December 13, 2023, in South Carolina. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, in conjunction with the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, prosecuted the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Columbia and Washington Field Offices. Rockey was identified in the FBI’s Be on the Lookout (BOLO) images as #500. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department also provided crucial assistance.
In the 46 months since the events of January 6, 2021, over 1,561 individuals across nearly all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the Capitol breach. This includes over 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers, a felony offense. The investigation into the breach continues.
