POLK — An Ashland County resident arrested for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol had his case dismissed on Jan. 22, court documents show.
Jeffrey Newcomb, 41, of Polk, was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 22, 2024. He faced five federal charges for allegations tied to him bringing a Trump sign to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Agents accused Newcomb of joining other rioters as they used the sign as a battering ram against a line of police officers, according to previous Ashland Source reporting.
The dismissal of Newcomb’s case came following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20. The executive order commuted the sentences of 14 individuals and pardoned more than 1,500 defendants involved in the Jan. 6 riots, including those with pending indictments related to that day, like Newcomb.
Newcomb’s lawyers could not be immediately reached for comment.
“These people have served years in jail and their lives have been ruined,” Trump said about the decision in an interview with NBC. He added America had weighed in on the pardons by voting him into office.
However, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed Tuesday, meant to represent the views of Americans about Trump taking office, showed 58% of respondents opposed pardons for Jan. 6 participants.
(Below are court documents showing the motion to dismiss the case against Jeffrey Newcomb, and that the motion was granted.)
What were Newcomb’s charges from Jan. 6?
An Oct. 21, 2024 affidavit from the FBI agent who arrested Newcomb stated he brought an 8-by-10 foot sign on a “custom-made aluminum wagon.”
(Below is a PDF of the affidavit.)
“The material reviewed shows Newcomb bringing the large metal-framed ‘Trump’ sign onto Capitol Grounds, escorting the sign close to the police line established on the Capitol’s West Plaza, and handing the sign off to others for them to shove the sign into a line of law enforcement officers in an attempt to breach the police line,” the affidavit states.
Video footage from body-worn cameras, capitol CCV and open source videos show Newcomb pushed the sign forward with other rioters, but released it before they hit the police line. He dropped back but “at one point, supported rioters continuing to shove the sign toward the police line by pushing on the rioters’ backs.”
On Jan. 6, over 140 police officers were assaulted by rioters. Four people in the crowd died that day. Five police officers who’d been there also died — one from a heart attack, one from injuries sustained that day, and three by suicide in the days and months following the attack, according to reporting by the New York Times.
The affidavit also states Newcomb remained on the West Plaza until “well-after the West Plaza police line fell at 2:30 p.m. and rioters swarmed the inaugural stage.”
A criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleges Newcomb committed the following violations of federal law:
- Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder
- Assaulting/resisting/impeding a federal officer while carrying or using a deadly or dangerous weapon
- Entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds
(Below is a PDF of the criminal complaint.)
Prior charges
Newcomb has several former convictions for crimes in Lorain County. He also has a current charge against him in Morrow County.
The Lorain County convictions span from 2011 to 2017. Two are convictions for operating a vehicle under the influence, which were filed in September 2011 and December 2017, respectively. He was also convicted of attempted rape and aggravated burglary in Lorain County in September 2012, for a charge that originated in September 2011.
A criminal case was in progress against Newcomb in Morrow County as of Oct. 23. In that case, Newcomb was charged with having weapons while under disability, aggravated menacing and assault.
Those charges originated Aug. 25, 2023, according to Morrow County court documents. A jury trial is slated to begin for that case on Feb. 11.
(Below is a PDF of an indictment against Newcomb, filed in the Morrow County Court of Common Pleas.)