Pardoned Jan. 6 Defendant Convicted of Simple Assault

Bryan Betancur, from Silver Spring, Maryland, has been found guilty of simple assault in a Washington, D.C., Superior Court. He was convicted for touching a woman’s hair on a Metro Red Line train in February and posting the incident on social media.

During the court proceedings, the judge described Betancur’s actions as “a creepy thing to do.” The victim involved expressed the emotional impact, stating, “I think about this video every single day. I think about this video every time I get on the Metro, which is twice every single day.” She shared that the incident left her feeling paranoid and exposed in public spaces.

The assault conviction carries a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail. Betancur has already spent 125 days in custody due to an alleged bail violation. Despite this, prosecutors are pushed for additional jail time rather than offering credit for time served. He also faces a potential $1,000 fine.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Alongside this charge, Betancur is confronting a stalking charge in Washington, D.C., and another assault and battery charge in Arlington, Virginia. The Arlington case includes accusations of a similar incident, where he allegedly livestreamed himself touching the hair of another woman on a train.

The FBI identified Betancur as a self-proclaimed white supremacist, seen with a Confederate flag during the Jan. 6 Capitol event. This formed part of a prior federal case, noting he was on parole for burglary, wearing an ankle monitor during the insurrection. Though sentenced to jail, President Donald Trump later pardoned him.