Michael Daniele

Michael Daniele, 61, a retired New Jersey State Police trooper from Holmdel, was accused of being among the first to breach a barricade during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot; his defense argued a frame-by-frame video review showed he was pushed forward by the crowd behind him, had his boot on the barricade for less than a second, and then backed away. He pleaded not guilty and, following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, was acquitted of two felony civil disorder-related counts but convicted on June 14, 2024 of four misdemeanors, including entering a restricted building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. He was sentenced on Oct. 4, 2024 to 24 months of probation, with the first 30 days on home detention, a $2,500 fine, and $500 in restitution.