WASHINGTON — A North Carolina man was sentenced to four months in prison Friday for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Nathan Baer, 44, of Asheville, N.C., pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder and received additional penalties, including 24 months of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution.
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced Baer for his participation in one of the more violent confrontations with law enforcement at the Tunnel entrance on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol. Court documents show Baer entered the Tunnel at 3:02 p.m., joining other rioters in a coordinated effort to push against officers. Baer was observed passing multiple riot shields to the front line of rioters who were using them against police.
Despite exiting the Tunnel at 3:11 p.m., Baer re-entered moments later and participated in another “heave-ho” movement aimed at breaking through the police line. He eventually left the Tunnel again around 3:19 p.m. Baer was arrested by the FBI on June 26, 2023, in Asheville, N.C.
Baer’s sentence includes four months of home detention as part of his supervised release term.