Epps faces a maximum of six months in prison and a fine up to $20,000 when sentenced on Dec. 20.
WASHINGTON—James Ray Epps Sr. pleaded guilty on Sept. 20 to a single misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, bringing to a close a lightning-quick prosecution for his actions in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021.
Appearing remotely before Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, Mr. Epps pleaded guilty to disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum one-year prison term.
A 14-page plea agreement (pdf) filed by federal prosecutors said Mr. Epps would face no more than six months in jail and a fine in the range of $2,000 to $20,000. The document was dated Sept. 6 and gave Mr. Epps until Sept. 15 to accept or reject the plea offer. The agreement was filed with the court on Sept. 20.
Judge Boasberg set sentencing for 10 a.m. on Dec. 20.
Defense attorney Edward Ungvarsky punctuated the end of his client’s case with a statement denying Mr. Epps ever worked as a federal informant.
“Ray Epps was not before, during, or after Jan. 6 a confidential informant for the government,” Mr. Ungvarsky told the court.
Mr. Epps will remain free on personal recognizance pending sentencing. No restrictions were placed on travel within the United States, although Mr. Epps will have to surrender his passport.
Judge Boasberg ordered him not to possess firearms, rejecting Mr. Epps’s request to retain that right on Second Amendment grounds. As part of his conditions of release (pdf), Mr. Epps was ordered to stay away from Washington D.C., except for court hearings.
Videos Key in Case
There has been rampant online speculation about Mr. Epps ever since his photograph was removed from the FBI’s Jan. 6 most-wanted website without explanation. Mr. Epps is one of a handful of people who have had their photos removed from the site since Jan. 7, 2021.
Public discussion about Mr. Epps was fueled by videos from Jan. 5 and 6 in which he urged people to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6.
By Joseph M. Hanneman and Joseph Lord
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