Steuben County Father and Son Charged for Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Involvement!
New court documents have provided additional details about the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. This event resulted in injuries to law enforcement officers and forced lawmakers to seek safety.
Since then, over 1,000 individuals have been arrested in connection with the riot. Among those recently charged are two men from Steuben County, New York—a father and his son.
This pair, Charles Schimmel Sr. and his youngest son, Logan Schimmel, both from Prattsburgh, New York, are now part of the growing list of people facing legal consequences for their alleged roles in the events of that day.
Video footage from January 6, both inside and outside the U.S. Capitol, captured the involvement of the Schimmels, according to court documents. Federal authorities claim that the father-son duo was among the hundreds of rioters present at the Capitol.
Video evidence confirms that the Schimmels were spotted at the “Stop the Steal” rally on the National Ellipse in Washington, D.C., before heading to the Capitol.
During an interview with the FBI in March 2022, Charles Schimmel stated that he traveled alone to Washington, D.C., the day before the riot. He claimed to have attended the rally by himself and did not mention being with his son, Logan. However, investigators uncovered video and photographic evidence that contradicted his statements.
Photos from the rally show two individuals, identified as the Schimmels in court documents, wearing distinctive clothing. Charles Sr. was allegedly seen in a brown jacket, black hood, a “Trump 2020” hat, and sunglasses. Logan was reportedly wearing a bright red beanie with the word “TRUMP” on it, a black overcoat, and regular glasses.
In his FBI interview, Charles mentioned listening to a speech by former President Donald Trump at the rally before heading to the Capitol. Once again, he did not disclose that Logan was with him.
However, court documents describe how both men walked together with a large crowd to the Capitol, entered a restricted area, and engaged in confrontations with police officers. Charles Sr. was allegedly seen waving a black-and-blue American flag with the word “TRUMP” on it.
Photographic evidence shows the Schimmels near the entrance of the Capitol, moving towards the front of the crowd where a police line had been established. They are accused of pushing past the officers, clearing the way for the crowd behind them.
Investigators allege that the Schimmels were among the first individuals to enter the Capitol building on January 6. The rioters gained access by breaking down a door and smashing nearby windows around the Senate wing—this was the first official breach of the Capitol that day. Once inside, the Schimmels appeared to take on a leadership role, reportedly directing and signaling to the crowd on where to go.
Body camera footage from a Montgomery County Police Officer allegedly shows the Schimmels trying to exit the Capitol via the Northwest stairs near an established police line. The two are accused of resisting police commands to back up, leading officers to deploy tear gas and use shields to move the crowd, including the Schimmels, back.
Although they were among the first to enter the Capitol, the Schimmels were reportedly among the last to leave the area. After spending about an hour inside, they remained on the Capitol grounds for another two hours.
The father and son now face several charges, including the felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, along with multiple misdemeanor charges.