11th South Carolina resident charged over role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

An 11th South Carolinian has been charged for alleged offenses committed at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

Paul Colbath, of Fort Mill, has been charged with disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Columbia.

Colbath was arrested after a tipster contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center to report that he “had been publicly bragging to friends and family” about participating in the riots at the Capitol.

In an interview with the FBI, Colbath said he did not “assault” the Capitol building, but entered it through an open door, court documents said.

Colbath told the FBI that “it felt good to get this off his chest,” court records said.

“He stated that he did not want to turn himself in, because he did not feel like he did anything criminal, but that he still felt guilt about his participation,” according to court records. “He felt ashamed and like he made ‘a big mistake.’ He did not take any weapons with him to the Capitol or plan to promote sedition or overthrow the government.”

Evidence against Colbath includes government surveillance tapes showing him inside the Capitol, court documents said.

Colbath made an appearance at the federal courthouse in Columbia before Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges Thursday morning and was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

The Jan. 6 riot halted Congress’ joint session to certify the Nov. 3 election of Joe Biden as president and caused U.S. House and Senate members to flee the Capitol. The certification was the last step in formalizing Biden’s election.

Earlier that day, a crowd of some 20,000 pro-Trump supporters gathered near the White House to hear then-President Donald Trump and others repeat false charges that the 2020 election had been stolen. After, hundreds then thousands marched to the Capitol, and many broke through police lines and entered the Capitol.

Some 150 police were injured in the riot and one alleged rioter was killed after she attempted to climb through a smashed door window leading to the House chamber.

In the 10 months since Jan. 6, more than 650 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the Capitol, including more than 190 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office in the District of Columbia. The investigation is ongoing.

The other 10 South Carolinians arrested on offenses connected to the riot are:

▪ Nicholas Languerand, of Little River, who is charged in April with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, assaulting an officer using a dangerous weapon, theft of government property and knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted government area

▪ Andrew Hatley, who is charged with uttering threatening, or abusive language, or engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct, at any place in the grounds or in any of the Capitol buildings with the intent to impede, disrupt, or disturb the orderly conduct of a session of Congress. He agreed to plead guilty at a Sept. 14 hearing to some of the charges against him

▪ A Hanahan couple, John Getsinger Jr. and Stacie Hargis-Getsinger, who were arraigned in Charleston before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker

▪ Elias Irizarry, 19, a freshman at the Citadel military college in Charleston. He was charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, illegally knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building and knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds

▪ Elliott Bishai, 20, of York County. He is charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, illegally knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building and knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds

▪ William Norwood III, of Greer, who is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, violent and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, obstruction of justice and theft of government property

▪ George Tenney III, 34, of Anderson, who is charged with interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, obstruction of justice, knowingly entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and demonstrating in a Capitol building

▪ Derek Gunby, 41, of Anderson County, who is charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds

▪ James Douglas Lollis Jr., of Greer, who is charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disruptive conduct in a restrictive building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 11:31 AM with the headline "11th South Carolina resident charged over role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot."