Ohio Pastor Sentenced to 30 Months for Role in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot
William Dunfee, a 59-year-old pastor from Ohio, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the sentence, which also includes a $10,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution.
Dunfee, who leads New Beginnings Ministry in Warsaw, Ohio, was convicted in January of obstruction, civil disorder, and trespassing following a bench trial. According to court documents, his actions leading up to the riot began with a Facebook post on December 27, 2020, where he urged his congregants to take a stand against government authority, stating, “The Government, the tyrants, the socialists, the Marxists, the progressives, the RINOs, they fear you. And they should.”
On January 6, Dunfee addressed the crowd at the Capitol with a bullhorn, proclaiming, “This election has been stolen right out from underneath of our noses and it is time for the American people to rise up. Rise up. Rise up.” He emphasized the need for citizens to stand against elected officials, asserting, “We will stand up for our country,” and called for the support of then-President Donald Trump.
During the riot, Dunfee pushed a metal barricade against police and was seen celebrating with fellow rioters, saying, “Hallelujah” and “Mission accomplished,” after a rioter claimed they had successfully shut down the Capitol.
Federal authorities were alerted to Dunfee’s actions about a month after the riot, following a tip that included screenshots of his comments on Facebook. Since the attack on the Capitol, over 1,500 individuals have been charged with related crimes.
