Four California men associated with the “Three Percenters” militia movement have been found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction charges for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Erik Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio Martinez, Derek Kinnison, and Ronald Mele were convicted after a trial in Washington’s federal court, according to prosecutors. The charges relate to their actions during the joint session of Congress, where President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election was being certified.
Attorneys for Martinez and Warner declined to comment, while Mele’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Kinnison’s lawyer expressed disappointment with the verdict and stated that they are exploring their legal options. According to Kinnison’s attorney, he participated in the events of January 6 to show support for former President Donald Trump, whom he believed to be the rightful winner of the election.
Prosecutors have identified the four men as members of the Three Percenters militia movement in southern California. The movement derives its name from the belief that only 3% of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War against the British. The defendants were charged alongside Alan Hostetter, a former California police chief and vocal critic of COVID-19 restrictions, who was convicted in a separate trial in July. Another codefendant, Russell Taylor, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in April.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the four men joined a Telegram chat called “The California Patriots – DC Brigade” to coordinate their plans for the Capitol riot. Taylor, who created the group, urged participants to bring weapons and body armor. Warner, Martinez, Kinnison, and Mele traveled together to Washington prior to the riot. Warner entered the Capitol through a broken window, while Martinez and Kinnison joined the rioters on the Upper West Terrace. Mele, wearing a tactical vest, was captured proclaiming “Storm the Capitol!” in a video on the building’s stairs.
In addition to conspiracy and obstruction charges, Warner and Kinnison were also convicted of tampering with documents or proceedings for deleting the chat conversation from their phones after the riot. The convictions of these four individuals contribute to the growing number of prosecutions related to the Capitol riot, with nearly 1,200 people facing federal charges. Over 800 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted, and approximately 700 have been sentenced, receiving prison terms ranging from three days to 22 years.
