William Chrestman, a noted Kansas Proud Boy leader, has admitted guilt to his actions during the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol Building on charges of obstruction of an official proceeding and threatening a federal officer. Chrestman’s confession came about as a component of a plea agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which was also made public on Monday.
The plea deal, which has been endorsed by District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly, necessitated that Chrestman sign a statement of offense recounting his precise deeds in combination with his guilty plea. In exchange, the DOJ has pledged not to press further charges against Chrestman for the actions outlined in the statement of offense. Furthermore, as part of the deal, the DOJ will suggest a prison term of 14 years, much less than the potential sentence if Chrestman had been convicted on all counts in the original indictment.
In the context of the statement of offense, Chrestman accepted that, before the insurrection on January 6, 2021, he was regarded as a “second-degree” member of the Kansas chapter of the Proud Boys. He confessed to driving to Washington, DC to protest the certification of the presidential election results in December 2020. Chrestman revealed that he stayed at a Proud Boys “safe house” and convened with other members of this organization. He then went to the Capitol equipped with a tactical vest, protective gloves, and a gas mask. He encouraged others to breach the Capitol, and even threatened a police officer with an axe handle attached to an American flag.
Chrestman is just part of a longer list of Proud Boys members and their administration who face charges related to the actions of January 6. Other significant figures include the likes of Ethan Nordean, Dominic Pezzola, Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, and others. Following the group’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection, Canada was the first country to formally label the Proud Boys as a terrorist group. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) also classifies them as a hate group.
Chrestman’s sentencing hearing is locked in for January 12, 2024. He will stay incarcerated until that period.
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