Trial for Bentonville Man Arrested in Jan. 6 Case Cancelled, Plea Hearing Set
BREAKING: The trial for a Bentonville man arrested in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol has been cancelled. Nathan Earl Hughes, 34, who faces multiple charges including assaulting an officer and obstructing police during a civil disorder, was scheduled to stand trial but it has been postponed.
This comes after the trial was initially delayed by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols, who ruled that Hughes’ trial would begin July 29 or Aug. 12. It is unclear why the trial has been completely cancelled and replaced with a plea hearing.
Hughes, who was arrested in August after the riot, remains free on his own recognizance. He is charged with two felonies: assaulting an officer and obstructing police during a civil disorder, along with three misdemeanor offenses. Three of his co-defendants were sentenced to prison last week, with prison terms ranging from six to 18 months. The fourth co-defendant, actor Jay Johnston, is set to be sentenced on October 7.
During the riot, Hughes was seen grabbing at officers’ riot shields and trying to take them away. He allegedly struck an officer with his elbow and shouted, “Pull them out!” to the crowd. The incident follows a speech by former President Donald Trump near the Capitol, which led to the riot protesting President Joe Biden’s victory in the November 2020 presidential election.
This legal development echoes the current debate surrounding the charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, which is being considered by the Supreme Court. The court’s decision could impact the prosecution of former President Trump and hundreds of other defendants charged in connection with the Capitol riot.
Further updates on Nathan Earl Hughes’ plea hearing and the ongoing legal battle surrounding the Capitol riot cases will continue to unfold.
