Attorneys in the case of a Conway man charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the nation’s Capitol have agreed to switch from a jury to a bench trial.
Peter Stager’s case would be heard before U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in Washington. A defense motion filed today indicates the U.S. attorney’s office is in agreement on the plan.
A jury trial had been scheduled to start Nov. 30. Today’s motion asks that the judge vacate previous scheduling and set a status hearing in about 30 days.
Stager, 42, is charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers while using a dangerous weapon; and other related charges. Stager is jailed in Washington.
Stager is accused of beating a Capitol police officer with a pole to which an American flag was affixed. Stager, who had long hair then, also was in a video outside the Capitol where he said, “Everybody in there is a treasonous traitor. Death is the only remedy for what’s in that building.”
In today’s motion, Washington defense attorney David Benowitz wrote, “The government and counsel for Mr. Stager have discussed this matter at length and the parties are intending to proceed with a stipulated bench trial.”