In July of 2020, William Watson was charged by the state of Alabama with possession of controlled substances and drug trafficking of LSD and Marijuana, felonies under Alabama law, he thus violated his bond by traveling to D.C on the 5th. During the beginning of the interview, he denied any role in any
violence, trespassing, vandalism, or other “criminal activity”. However, Watson later admitted that “, but we just started all pushing and pushing and pushing and eventually got through that one area and
then they kind of made another little line and then we pushed on that line and then
they gave up and after that one, they gave up, completely, and moved the rest of the
barricades climbing up the steps toward the building and then ushered us, like made
hand motions for us to go in.” Watson then said he entered the US Capitol Building through an already broken window.
Please keep in mind that in the United States, every citizen charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- First Name(s): William Wright
- Last Name(s): Watson
- Case Number: 21-cr-00513
- Arrest Location: Nee County, AL
- Judge: Zia M. Faruqui
- Judge: Reggie Walton
- Entry Last Updated: 08/12/2023
- Date Docket Downloaded: 06/27/2022
- Currently Incarcerated: Yes
- Support William Wright Watson: Click here to help cover William Wright's legal and living expenses
Charges
Obstruction of an Official Proceeding (1) Destruction of Government Property (2) Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon (3) Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon (4) Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon (5) Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Capitol Building (6) Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings (7) Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building (8)
Case Status
Arrested 5/4/21. Conditions of release were set on 5/12/21. A bench trial took place on 11/18/22- he was found guilty of counts 1 and 3. Sentencing occurred on 3/19/23. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison with credit for time served and was ordered to pay special assessment of $100 for each count, for a total of $200.
USA Attorney
Jennifer Rozzoni
Jennifer M. Rozzoni
US DOJ-USAO-Lrm Lee, Edmund
201 3rd St, NW, PO BOX 607, Albuquerque, NM 87105- 505 350 6818
[email protected]
LEAD ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED-Designation: US Assistant Attorney
USA Attorney
Alexander Diamond
NY Bar No. 5684634
Assistant United States Attorney
District of Columbia601 D St. NW, Room 6.3104 Washington, DC 20530
(202) 506-0427
[email protected]
Case Documents
- William Watson Docket Sheet as of 8/12/2023
- #1 Complaint and Statement of Facts
- #3 NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE Nicole E. McClain appearing for USA.
- #4 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL as to USA. Attorney Rozzoni, Jennifer M added. Substituting for attorney Nicole E. McClain
- #6 NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: Cecilia Vaca appearing for WILLIAM WRIGHT WATSON
- #7 NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: Samuel J Brooke appearing for WILLIAM WRIGHT WATSON
- #8 Arrest Warrant, dated 1/17/2021, returned executed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on 5/10/2021 as to Defendant WILLIAM WRIGHT WATSON.
- #9 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release : Defendant WILLIAM WRIGHT WATSON placed on Personal Recognizance Bond signed by Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather, nunc pro tunc to 5/10/2021. (Attachment: # 1 Appearance Bond)
- #11 Unopposed MOTION to Continue July 9, 2021 Status Conference, Unopposed MOTION for Speedy Trial Exclusion of Time by USA as to WILLIAM WRIGHT WATSON.
- #12 ORDER Granting 11 Unopposed MOTION to Continue July 9, 2021 Status Conference, Unopposed MOTION for Speedy Trial Exclusion of Time by USA as to WILLIAM WRIGHT WATSON (1). Time between 7/8/2021 and 9/7/2021 (61 Days) shall be excluded from calculation under the Speedy Trial Act in the interest of justice X-T. Status Hearing continued to 9/7/2021 at 01:00 PM in Telephonic/VTC before Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui. Signed by Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey on 7/8/2021.
- #13 INDICTMENT as to WILLIAM WATSON (1) count(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- #15 GENERAL ORDER GOVERNING CRIMINAL CASES BEFORE THE HONORABLE REGGIE B. WALTON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 7, 2021.
- #17 ORDER, as to WILLIAM WATSON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 10/12/2021.
- #18 Unopposed MOTION for Protective Order by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON.
- #18 a) Text of Proposed Order
- #18 b) Exhibit Attachment A to Proposed Order
- #19 PROTECTIVE ORDER setting forth procedures for handling confidential material; allowing designated material to be filed under seal as to WILLIAM WATSON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 10/18/2021.
- #21 ORDER, as to WILLIAM WATSON. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 12/7/2021.
- #22 Unopposed MOTION to Continue February 23, 2022 Status Conference, Unopposed MOTION for Speedy Trial Exclusion of Time by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON.
- #23 ORDER, granting [22] Motion to Continue as to WILLIAM WATSON (1) Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 2/22/2022.
- #24 NOTICE to Court Regarding Speedy Trial by WILLIAM WATSON
- #25 ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 3/10/2022.
- #26 ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON, CONTINUING the Status Hearing currently set for May 24, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. to that same day at 3:30 PM. The parties shall appear before the Court via teleconference, by calling 1-877-873-8017 and entering the Court's access code (8583213) followed by the pound key (#). SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 4/28/2022.
- #28 Unopposed MOTION to Continue May 24, 2022 Status Conference, Unopposed MOTION for Speedy Trial Act Tolling by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON.
- #29 ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON granting [28] Unopposed Motion to Continue 5/24/2022 Status Conference. The hearing currently scheduled for 5/24/2022 is continued to 7/25/2022 at 10:00 AM. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 5/19/2022
- #30 NOTICE to Court Regarding Speedy Trial by WILLIAM WATSON re [29] Order on Motion to Continue
- #31 ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON excluding speedy trial from 5/24/2022 to 7/25/2022.Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on 6/13/2022.
- #32-MOTION to Continue, MOTION to Exclude Time Under the Speedy Trial Act by WILLIAM WATSON
- #33-GENERAL ORDER GOVERNING CRIMINAL CASES BEFORE THE HONORABLE JUDGE REGGIE B. WALTON as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #34-PRE-TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #35-ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #36-Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Pretrial Materials by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #37-ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #38-MOTION to Dismiss Count One Obstruction Charge by WILLIAM WATSON
- #39-Unopposed MOTION for Order To Adjourn Pretrial Deadlines by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #40-ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #41-RESPONSE by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON re [38] MOTION to Dismiss Count One Obstruction Charge
- #42-ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #43-NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE Joseph Hutton Marshall appearing for USA
- #44-MO~1
- #45-Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON re [44] Motion for Miscellaneous Relief
- #46-STATEMENT OF FACTS FOR STIPULATED TRIAL by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #47-AGREEMENT AND WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL RIGHTS by WILLIAM WATSON
- #48-ORDER as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #51-NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #55-SENTENCING MEMORANDUM by WILLIAM WATSON
- #56-SENTENCING MEMORANDUM by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #57-NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE Alexander M. Diamond appearing for USA
- #58-MOTION for Downward Variance by WILLIAM WATSON
- #59-EXHIBIT LIST by USA as to WILLIAM WATSON
- #60-JUDGMENT as to WILLIAM WATSON