This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 to add comments from Justin Lee’s attorney.
Montgomery County Police Officer Justin Lee, 25, of Rockville was indicted Thursday for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
He was indicted for felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
These officers were part of the Metropolitan Police Department, according to the indictment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also said he was indicted for several misdemeanor offenses, including:
- Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
- Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building
- Act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings
Terrell N. Roberts, III, Lee’s attorney, told MoCo360 on the phone Friday that he is frustrated with people assuming his client is guilty.
“The presumption of innocence is the most important principle in this country,” Roberts said. “He shouldn’t be presumed to be guilty as it seems to be the case in many situations.”
The Montgomery County Police Department announced Thursday that Lee will be suspended without pay and that they are taking steps to fire him, due to the indictment.
Lee has been on administrative leave from the department since he fatally shot a man suspected in four stabbings in Aspen Hill on July 22.
Franklin Castro Ordonez, 19, of Gaithersburg was suspected of stabbing four people in the areas of Colie Road and the Unique Thrift Store on Veirs Mill Road in an attack Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Darren Francke called “unprovoked” and “random” at a press conference on July 22.
Body camera footage released weeks later showed Ordonez running toward Lee, knife in hand, and as a result, Lee shot him multiple times.
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General is investigating this incident.
Roberts said that the Maryland Attorney General’s investigation into the July 22 shooting did not lead the FBI to finding Lee.
Lee began working with the department on Jan. 31, 2022 and attended the Jan. 6 insurrection prior to becoming an officer.
“Lee’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection was not discovered during this process, as he was not identified by the Justice Department in connection with the event,” police said.
Since they did not catch this during Lee’s background check, police said they “are initiating a comprehensive review of our background investigation process to determine whether adjustments need to be made.”
Lee was arrested Thursday in Washington, D.C., which is where his court appearance was, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Roberts said that a trial date has not been set yet.
“I’m pretty disappointed and more than a little bit angry,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a press conference Thursday.
Elrich said that he doesn’t understand how someone could attack law enforcement on Jan. 6 and then join a police department that was at the Capitol that day.
“It’s bizarre. It’s hard to understand the logic behind that,” Elrich said.
If anyone has tips on this case, they can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fib.gov.
