Who Is Ronald Colton Mcabee? Accused Capitol Attacker

Ronald Colton McAbee is a former Tennessee sheriff’s deputy who was convicted of multiple federal crimes stemming from his participation in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Federal prosecutors said McAbee wore a tactical vest marked “SHERIFF,” carried reinforced-knuckle gloves, assaulted police officers and helped drag a Metropolitan Police Department officer toward the mob outside the Capitol. McAbee pleaded guilty to two charges and was separately convicted by a jury of five felony counts. He was sentenced in February 2024 to 70 months in federal prison but was released on January 20, 2025, after President Donald Trump issued pardons to January 6 defendants, including McAbee.

Ronald Colton McAbee At The Capitol

McAbee Traveled From Tennessee To Washington For January 6. Prosecutors said McAbee attended events surrounding the certification of the 2020 presidential election before joining the crowd at the U.S. Capitol. [DOJ]

McAbee Was A Sheriff’s Deputy At The Time. He was employed by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee and was on medical leave when he traveled to Washington. [AP]

He Wore A Tactical Vest Marked “SHERIFF.” Prosecutors said McAbee also wore insignia associated with the Three Percenters movement. [DOJ] [AP]

Reinforced-Knuckle Gloves

Prosecutors Said McAbee Brought Reinforced-Knuckle Gloves To The Capitol. Federal authorities characterized the gloves as a dangerous weapon during the prosecution. [DOJ]

A Federal Appeals Court Said McAbee Had Discussed Obtaining Items That Could Be Used As Weapons Before January 6. The D.C. Circuit cited that evidence while upholding his pretrial detention. [D.C. Circuit]

Assault On Police Officers

McAbee Was Involved In Violence At The Lower West Terrace. The area became the scene of some of the most serious fighting between rioters and police on January 6. [DOJ]

Prosecutors Said McAbee Assaulted A Police Officer Who Was Already On The Ground. Government evidence showed McAbee grabbing Metropolitan Police Officer Andrew Wyatt and helping pull him toward the crowd. [DOJ]

The D.C. Circuit Said Video Showed McAbee Trying To Drag The Downed Officer Into The Crowd. The appeals court cited the footage when affirming the decision to keep him detained before trial. [D.C. Circuit]

McAbee Also Struck Another Officer Who Intervened. Federal prosecutors said he assaulted multiple officers during the confrontation. [DOJ]

Ronald McAbee Arrested

McAbee Was Arrested On August 17, 2021. Federal authorities arrested him in Tennessee on charges stemming from the Capitol attack. [Federal Court Records]

A Tennessee Magistrate Initially Approved His Release. The federal government challenged that ruling and sought to have McAbee detained pending trial. [Federal Court Records]

A Federal Judge Ultimately Ordered McAbee Held Before Trial. The D.C. Circuit later upheld that detention decision, finding that the lower court had not clearly erred in concluding that release conditions would not adequately protect the community. [D.C. Circuit]

Guilty Plea

McAbee Pleaded Guilty To Two Charges On September 25, 2023. He admitted to felony assaulting, resisting or impeding a police officer and misdemeanor physical violence on Capitol grounds. [DOJ]

The Guilty Plea Concerned A Separate Assault From The Charges That Went To Trial. His case therefore included both admitted conduct and additional allegations that were decided by a jury. [DOJ]

Jury Convicts McAbee On Five Felonies

A Federal Jury Convicted McAbee On Five Additional Felony Counts On October 11, 2023. He was found guilty on every count submitted to the jury. [DOJ]

The Jury Convicted Him Of Assaulting, Resisting Or Impeding Officers. That felony involved his conduct toward law-enforcement officers during the Capitol attack. [DOJ]

McAbee Was Also Convicted Of Civil Disorder. The jury found that he unlawfully interfered with law enforcement during the riot. [DOJ]

Three Other Felony Convictions Involved His Presence In A Restricted Area While Armed With A Dangerous Weapon. Those counts involved entering or remaining in restricted grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct, and engaging in physical violence. [DOJ]

70-Month Prison Sentence

McAbee Was Sentenced On February 29, 2024. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras imposed a 70-month federal prison sentence. [DOJ]

The Sentence Also Included Three Years Of Supervised Release. McAbee was additionally ordered to serve 36 months under federal supervision following incarceration. [DOJ]

McAbee Was Ordered To Pay $32,165 In Restitution. The restitution was associated with injuries and losses resulting from his offenses. [DOJ]

Federal Prosecutors Had Sought A Much Longer Sentence. The government asked the judge to impose 151 months in prison, while McAbee’s defense requested 30 months. [Government Sentencing Memorandum]

McAbee’s Defense

McAbee Said He Had Tried To Help Rosanne Boyland. His defense maintained that part of his conduct near the police line involved attempting to help Boyland, who died after becoming trapped amid the crowd. [Defense Sentencing Memorandum]

The Defense Disputed The Government’s Characterization Of Some Of The Violence. McAbee’s attorneys argued that he reacted after being struck by police and that some of his contact with officers occurred while he was attempting to assist people on the ground. [Defense Sentencing Memorandum]

The Jury Nevertheless Convicted McAbee On All Five Counts It Considered. Those convictions were separate from the two offenses to which he had already pleaded guilty. [DOJ]

Appeal

McAbee Filed An Appeal After Sentencing. His appeal was docketed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in March 2024. [Federal Appeals Court]

Donald Trump Pardons McAbee

President Donald Trump Issued A Broad January 6 Pardon Proclamation On January 20, 2025. The proclamation covered people convicted of offenses connected to the events at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6. [DOJ Pardon Attorney]

Ronald Colton McAbee Is Specifically Listed As A Pardon Recipient. Justice Department records list “MCABEE, RONALD COLTON” among people who requested and were issued certificates of pardon under Trump’s proclamation. [DOJ Pardon Attorney]

McAbee Released From Prison

McAbee Was Released On January 20, 2025. His wife, Sarah McAbee, announced that he left federal custody following Trump’s pardon. [Sarah McAbee] [WSMV]

His 70-Month Prison Sentence Ended Before He Served The Full Term. The presidential pardon terminated the remaining criminal punishment associated with his January 6 convictions. [DOJ Pardon Attorney] [WSMV]

Case Status

McAbee Was Convicted Of Seven Criminal Offenses In The January 6 Case. He pleaded guilty to two offenses and was convicted by a jury of five additional felony counts. [DOJ]

He Was Sentenced To 70 Months In Federal Prison. The sentence also included supervised release and more than $32,000 in restitution. [DOJ]

President Trump Pardoned McAbee On January 20, 2025. Justice Department records confirm that McAbee received a pardon certificate under Trump’s January 6 proclamation. [DOJ Pardon Attorney]

McAbee Is No Longer Serving The January 6 Prison Sentence. He was released from federal custody following the pardon. [WSMV]