Alan Hostetter, a former California police chief and outspoken critic of COVID-19 restrictions, has been convicted for his involvement in the January 6th U.S. Capitol riot. Hostetter carried a hatchet in his backpack during the attack, aimed at disrupting the certification of President Biden's election victory.

Following a bench trial in Washington D.C.'s federal court, Judge Royce Lamberth found Hostetter guilty on all four counts, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and entering a restricted area with a dangerous weapon. During the trial, Hostetter, who represented himself with assistance from standby counsel, promoted conspiracy theories about the riot, including false claims of a stolen election and a “federal setup.” Judge Lamberth rejected these claims, emphasizing that even a former law enforcement officer should understand the illegality of using violence to obstruct Congress.

Hostetter's conviction stems from his arrest in June 2021 alongside five other men, some of whom are linked to the Three Percenters militia group. Prosecutors highlighted Hostetter's active role in a Telegram group called "The California Patriots-DC Brigade," where discussions about bringing weapons to Washington on January 6th took place. While Hostetter denied any affiliation with the Three Percenters, evidence presented showed him and co-defendant Russell Taylor on the Capitol's Upper West Terrace during the riot, with a caption comparing the event to the American Revolution. Taylor has since pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.

Prior to the riot, Hostetter founded the American Phoenix Project, a non-profit he used to oppose COVID-19 restrictions and, after the election, advocate for violence against political opponents. He participated in pro-Trump events in late 2020, including a "Million MAGA March" and a "Stop the Steal" rally, where he called for holding "traitors" accountable and suggested severe punishments, including execution. The day before the Capitol attack, co-defendant Taylor also called for violence to overturn the election results at a rally.

Hostetter's sentencing is scheduled for October 13th. His case is one of over 1,000 federal prosecutions related to the Capitol riot, with roughly 100 convictions resulting from trials and over 600 from guilty pleas.