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An Indianapolis attorney has been convicted of two federal misdemeanors in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Quentin G. Cantrell was convicted at a bench trial Tuesday of entering and remaining in a restricted building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
But Judge Trevor McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found him not guilty of two other misdemeanors: disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a U.S. Capitol building or grounds.
Cantrell has been released on a personal recognizance bond. His sentencing is scheduled for June 26.
Also convicted on Tuesday was Jared Cantrell, who was charged alongside Quentin and a third relative, Eric Cantrell. The Cantrells are referred to in court documents as the “Cantrell cousins.”
Jared was convicted of the same two counts as Quentin, as well one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building.
Eric pleaded guilty in February to the parading, demonstrating or picketing charge. He was sentenced to three months’ probation, a $10 special assessment, $500 in restitution and a $1,000 fine.
According to government court filings, “The (Cantrell) defendants were among the rioters who illegally entered the U.S. Capitol grounds and then entered the U.S. Capitol building itself” on Jan. 6, 2021, the day when a mob attempted to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The Cantrell cousins had driven to Washington, D.C., one day earlier to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally featuring then-President Donald Trump. After the rally on Jan. 6, the Cantrells “marched down Constitution Avenue toward the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.”
Once at the Capitol, the government’s trial brief says the Cantrells spent about 19 minutes on the Upper West Terrace. A fire exit located on that terrace was breached at 2:34 p.m. and an alarm began sounding.
The cousins entered the Capitol through the breached fire exit about three minutes later.
“Quentin Cantrell remained in the Capitol for approximately two minutes along with many other rioters whose numbers greatly outnumbered law enforcement as law enforcement was attempting to secure the Capitol. Quentin Cantrell exited out the Upper West Terrace door and made his way back to the northwest stairs … . At 3:07 p.m., Quentin Cantrell attempted to climb over the stair wall and down (to) the ground,” according to the government’s brief.
For his part, Jared made his way to the Capitol Rotunda and captured video before exiting the building at about 2:47 p.m. He later posted to Facebook, “I was one of the first 50 in.”
A separate statement of offense says Eric remained in the Capitol building for one minute and 38 seconds.
The cousins eventually returned to Indiana together.
The maximum prison sentence for each misdemeanor Quentin has been convicted of is six months, plus any applicable fines and/or probation. Sentencing memoranda for both Quentin and Jared — who are scheduled to be sentenced on the same day — are due by June 19.
Indiana Lawyer has reached out to Quentin’s counsel, David Issa of Houston, for comment.
At the time of his arrest in March 2022, Quentin was listed online as working for the Indianapolis firm of Woodard Emhardt Henry Reeves & Wagner LLP. He was removed from the firm’s website soon after his arrest, and he currently has no contact information listed on the Indiana Roll of Attorneys.
The Roll of Attorneys also does not list any previous or pending disciplinary actions against him.
The case in the Washington, D.C., District Court is United States of America v. Cantrell, et al., 1:22-cr-00121.
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