Beaver County man pleads to misdemeanor count in Capitol riot case

A Beaver County man charged with participating in the Capitol riot in January pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single misdemeanor.

Russell James Peterson, of Rochester, will be sentenced Dec. 1 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson on one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

The maximum possible penalty is six months incarceration and a $5,000 fine. The plea agreement does not call for a specific sentence, and instead it will be left up to the judge.

According to the statement of offense that Peterson signed as part of his plea agreement, he traveled to Washington with his wife and mother on Jan. 6 to rally for Donald Trump and protest the election results.

After the rally, the document said, he walked toward the Capitol as part of a large crowd.

When the group arrived outside the building, Peterson’s wife and mother returned to their car.

He, however, stayed and entered the building through the Senate Wing Door at 2:23 p.m.

While inside, the document said, Peterson livestreamed videos on Facebook at least twice — from the Crypt of the building and the Crypt lobby.

He left the building and drove back to Pennsylvania with his wife and mother at about 4 p.m.

In messages on Facebook, the statement said, Peterson told one user that he “ ‘stormed the castle, broke into the chambers and smoked a blunt on the couch.’ He responded to another comment with, ‘I got [maced], tear [gassed] and lumped up a lil bit. Overall I had fun lol.’ ”

As part of the plea agreement, Peterson must also pay $500 in restitution for the nearly $1.5 million damage done to the Capitol that day.

He was initially charged with knowingly entering any restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct and disruptive conduct in the Capitol Buildings, as well. Those counts, however, will be dismissed as part of the plea agreement.