Hawaii ‘Proud Boy’ Told To Stay Away From DC Or Face Another Arrest
Nicholas Ochs was part of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
WASHINGTON — A federal judge Friday told Nicholas Ochs, the founder of the Hawaii Proud Boys, that if he comes to Washington, D.C., again without prior approval he’ll be arrested.
Ochs, a former Marine who lives in Honolulu, appeared via teleconference for his first court hearing in the District of Columbia to face charges for his part in a Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead, including a police officer.
Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey modified the conditions of his release by including a “stay away” order that prevents Ochs from traveling to the Washington area unless it is for court business. He also ordered Ochs to surrender his passport.
Nicholas Ochs, left, and a man who calls himself Dick NeCarlo pose in front of graffiti that says “Murder the Media” at the U.S. Capitol.
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Ochs is one of dozens of people arrested and charged by the U.S. Justice Department for taking part in the siege.
While Ochs is not accused of any violence, he does face a misdemeanor count of unlawfully entering the Capitol where he posted video and images of himself smoking a cigarette and standing in front of a sign that said, “Murder the Media.”
He’s described himself as a working journalist who was covering the events of the day when a pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol in hopes of stopping Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election won by former Vice President Joe Biden.
Ochs is affiliated with an outfit known as Murder the Media that livestreams far-right content.
He’s also worked for Milo Yiannopoulis, a controversial right-wing provocateur, and posts regularly to Telegram as, “The Ochs Report.”
On Jan. 6, Ochs shared several videos showing him and another Proud Boy, who goes by Dick NeCarlo, roaming the Capitol grounds with the mob and boasting of delaying the certification of Biden’s victory.
The National Guard has been deployed to the U.S. Capitol in advance of Biden’s inauguration.
Nick Grube/Civil Beat
“We actually stopped the steal,” Ochs proclaimed in one of the videos. “It may resume, but the steal is for now stopped. You’re welcome America!”
Ochs has also provided updates to his followers about his arrest and subsequent release from the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu after several days in custody.
He’s additionally tried to raise money to help pay for his defense while at the same time taking swipes at his perceived detractors.
“I realize my new audience this week contains boomers, feds, and antifa,” Ochs wrote. “Y’all will succumb to my natural charm here.”
A preliminary hearing for Ochs in U.S. District Court in Washington is scheduled for Feb. 5.
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Nick Grube is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at nick@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @nickgrube. You can also reach him by phone at 808-377-0246.