A man from Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to prison for assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, is now facing additional serious charges in West Virginia. These charges stem from a violent altercation that took place at a restaurant last year.
Joshua Lee Atwood, a 31-year-old resident of Burgettstown, has been handed a 48-month prison sentence along with three years of supervised release. This comes after Atwood pleaded guilty to the charges of assaulting police officers with a weapon during the Capitol riot. Atwood confessed to engaging in acts of violence by hurling objects like a baseball bat and a metal pole at officers who were protecting the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace Tunnel. Additionally, he was also found guilty of using pepper spray against the law enforcement personnel. Prosecutors presented these compelling pieces of evidence against Atwood.
Prior to his arrest in April 2024 for the Capitol breach, Atwood had already been sought after for a distinct incident in Chester, WV.
On April 28, 2023, an altercation took place at The Crazy Donkey restaurant involving Atwood and the owner, Jose Mocias-Onate. According to the police, Atwood confronted Mocias-Onate in the kitchen, demanding payment for handyman services. The situation escalated when Atwood ended up stealing cash from the register.
After experiencing significant bleeding, the victim received medical care at a trauma center in Pittsburgh. Following treatment, they were discharged from the hospital.
In May 2023, U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement apprehended Atwood at a residence in Burgettstown after weeks of evading capture. Atwood was wanted on charges of armed robbery and malicious assault, for which arrest warrants had been obtained by the police.
Atwood’s involvement in the Capitol riot and the pending charges against him in West Virginia reveal a troubling trend of increasingly aggressive behavior. He currently awaits extradition to West Virginia to confront these charges.
The Crazy Donkey restaurant was forced to temporarily close following the attack, but it has since reopened its doors to customers.