A Greenville man charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol is in federal custody following a series of events highlighted by an incident in which he allegedly shot toward Hunt County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Nathan Donald Pelham, 40, was arrested Tuesday. Pelham faces four misdemeanor charges connected to his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol building. On April 11, Pelham was charged with entering a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in that area; disorderly conduct on capitol grounds; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building.
On April 18, Pelham was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which is itself a felony. In 2004, Pelham was sentenced to two years in jail for probation revocation related to a 2003 felony conviction for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Pelham was arrested April 18, according to court documents, and remains in custody pending trial.
The incident in which Pelham allegedly shot toward sheriff’s deputies occurred on the night of April 12 at Pelham’s home.
A complaint filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation said an agent called Pelham April 12 to notify Pelham of the federal misdemeanor warrant and that Pelham needed to surrender himself to law enforcement on April 17, to which Pelham agreed. At about 7:45 p.m. on April 12, Hunt County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Pelham’s home in response to a call from Pelham’s father saying that Pelham was threatening suicide and had a gun.
Court documents said deputies found the house dark and turned on their vehicle emergency lights. A female child soon exited the home and was placed in a patrol vehicle for safety. Deputies heard gunshots from inside the residence and took cover further back from the house. Pelham’s father arrived shortly after 9:30 and at that point, another gunshot from Pelham resulted in a bullet audibly passing close to a sheriff’s deputy and struck an object near the deputy, the complaint said.
Shortly thereafter, Pelham parleyed with officers several times from his porch, where he could be observed holding his gun and a phone, documents said. Later, Pelham again filed multiple shots from his pistol, the complaint said. Records indicate Hunt County Sheriff’s Office deputies left the scene at 12:21 a.m. without making an arrest.
An April 14 FBI search of Pelham’s house revealed a 9 mm pistol and ammunition, officials said. Multiple bullet holes were inside the home, they said.
Federal authorities had been seeking Pelham since evidence indicated in presence during the Jan. 6, 2012, breach of the U.S. Capitol. In March 2021, Pelham was detained by federal officials in Port Huron, Mich., after he unsuccessfully tried to enter Canada. Pelham admitted to officials that he was at the U.S. Capitol on the day of the insurrection, according to court records.
Pelham faces up to 15 years in federal prison on the weapons charge and up to three years on the charges related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.