South Fayette man pleads to Jan. 6 Capitol riot charges

A South Fayette man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Jorden Mink, 29, will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss on April 11 on two counts including assaulting, resisting or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon and theft of government property.

According to his plea agreement, Mink faces an estimated recommended sentencing guideline range of 57 to 71 months incarceration.

He has been in federal custody since his arrest just 12 days after the Capitol attack. Mink was initially charged with 10 counts.

The plea agreement also calls for Mink to pay $2,000 restitution.

According to court documents, Mink entered the Capitol building that day through a broken window and used a baseball bat to break a different window and attempt to break another. Investigators said he also removed chairs from inside and passed them to the mob outside.

When Mink was arrested on Jan. 18, 2021, investigators recovered the clothing he wore at the Capitol at his home, including a jacket and hat that matched images of him recorded that day. They also found an “FBI Wanted” poster in Mink’s car that featured his own picture.

According to the government’s summary of the case, video footage taken at the Capitol showed Mink spitting on officers, throwing a traffic cone and stick at them, and then striking at them with a long pole. He also threw a large, rectangular object at them, the prosecution said, which could have been either a step or drawer.

Mink was initially identified by investigators because of an extensive neck tattoo and tattoo under his left eye. Other evidence against him and cited by the government included a social media post he made. In it, Mink can be seen holding a long gun and quoting Abraham Lincoln, who said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

Mink’s post continued, “Well … my magazines will be fully loaded just in case it’s not.”