Matthew DaSilva, a 51-year-old man from Lavon, Texas, has been found guilty on two felony charges and four misdemeanors related to his participation in the Capitol breach that occurred on January 6, 2021. The disruptive actions committed by DaSilva and other individuals disturbed a joint session of the United States Congress, which was convened to verify and tally the electoral votes pertaining to the presidential election.
Following a bench trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols, DaSilva was convicted on six charges, including civil disorder, assaulting or resisting specific officers, unlawfully entering and remaining in restricted premises or grounds, engaging in disruptive conduct within restricted premises or grounds, engaging in physical violence within restricted premises or grounds, and committing acts of physical violence on the Capitol grounds or buildings. However, DaSilva was acquitted on charges related to disorderly conduct within a Capitol building.
The sentencing hearing for DaSilva has been scheduled for October 12, 2023.
During the trial, the government presented evidence that DaSilva was among the rioters who gathered on the western front of the Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021. CCTV footage from Capitol Police captured DaSilva entering the west plaza of the Capitol at approximately 2:35 p.m., holding a flagpole and waving a large blue flag. Later, at around 4:20 p.m., he was seen positioned behind a group of rioters engaging in a collective "heave-ho" action, attempting to dislodge law enforcement personnel who were defending the entrance to the Lower West Terrace tunnel.
At 4:33 p.m., DaSilva was witnessed advancing towards a cluster of officers gathered in the tunnel, forcefully pushing against an officer's extended riot shield. He then seized hold of the riot shield, forcibly removing it from the officer's grip, and swiped away the officer's arm as they attempted to use a handheld OC spray canister.
The events of January 6, 2021, resulted in widespread outrage and condemnation, leading to an extensive investigation by law enforcement agencies. Over the past two and a half years, since the breach occurred, authorities have apprehended over 1,069 individuals across nearly every state in connection with the incident at the U.S. Capitol. Among these individuals, over 350 have been specifically charged with offenses involving assault or obstruction of law enforcement personnel. The investigations into this matter continue as the authorities seek to hold all those responsible for the breach accountable.
