North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Ruben Lowman
Nicholas Languerand of Little River pled guilty last week to a charge of assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous weapon during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The breach of the capitol building disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes of the previous year’s presidential election.
Languerand’s case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. According the court documents, valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Columbia, S.C. Field Offices. Officials said that valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, Languerand, 26, admitted throwing dangerous objects at officers enchanted with guarding the building. On the day Languerand was among rioters standing near the archway leading from the Lower West Terrace to the interior of the U.S. Capitol. Between 4:50 and 5 p.m., he threw various objects at officers with the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department, including an orange traffic barrier and two stick-like objects, according to court documents.
The officers were part of the detail protecting the Lower West Terrace entrance. The court judged that based on the size and weight of the objects, in addition to the speed and force with which Languerand threw them, the items were “capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.” Additionally, at about 5 p.m., Languerand took possession of a police riot shield, struck it against the ground and then held it in front of him as he confronted police.
Languerand was later arrested locally on April 15. His sentencing will be held on Jan. 20, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. For the charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according the court documents.
