Father and Son Plead Guilty to Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A father and son pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement officers during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Jason Douglas Owens, 50, and his son, Grady Douglas Owens, 22, both of Blanco, Texas, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding a law enforcement officer. Grady Owens also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in a Capitol grounds or building.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, both defendants illegally entered the Capitol grounds. At about 2 p.m., they were in the west lawn area. A group of officers walked through the crowd of rioters, on their way to the Lower West Terrace. As the officers walked by, Grady Owens turned, raised a skateboard in the air, and struck an officer on the side of his body. A skirmish then erupted between other officers and rioters, resulting in additional assaults by others of officers.

            Around the same time, Jason Owens shoved an officer hard enough for the officer’s head to snap back. The two men then made their way to the east side of the Capitol, joining a crowd that attempted to push their way into the East Rotunda Doors without success. Jason Owens again assaulted another officer near the doors by grabbing his baton and fighting over it.

            On Jan. 6, Grady Owens made several video recordings of his time in the Capitol and made statements such as, “We will not concede,” and “You can’t stop us.”

            Jason Owens was arrested on April 16, 2021, in Austin, Texas, and Grady Owens was arrested on April 1, 2021, in Winter Park, Florida. They are to be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2023. They face a statutory maximum of eight years in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. Grady Owens also faces a statutory maximum of six months in prison on the misdemeanor charge. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Texas and the Middle District of Florida.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Grady Owens as #109 on its seeking information photos, and the FBI’s San Antonio and Tampa Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 22 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.