Third Rochester-area man accused in Capitol riot

Rochester, N.Y. — The criminal complaint against a Parma man accused of participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol was unsealed Wednesday - and includes accusations against another Rochester man.

Federal authorities say James Mault of Brockport and Cody Mattice of Parma tried to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6 and sprayed a "chemical agent" at law enforcement.

The complaint includes photos taken from Capitol surveillance cameras, social media, and the Internet, purportedly of both men participating in the riot.

They are the second and third local men to be charged in connection with the insurrection. Dominic Pezzola of Rochester was charged earlier this year, accused of stealing a police officer's riot shield and using it to break a window at the Capitol.

RELATED: New video evidence in case of Rochester man charged in Capitol riots

Authorities started looking into Mattice, who was identified only by his first name and where he was from.

"One mobile device recorded a young man, who identified himself as “Cody from Rochester,” recovering from a recent exposure to pepper spray. In the video, Cody is pouring water in his face to rinse the pepper spray from his eyes. Cody said he did not want to fight anyone and was pushed."

Around the same time, investigators learned about Mault from a tip.

"Mault was described as wearing a hard hat with stickers, one of them was the Ironworkers Local 33 Rochester, New York (NY). C1 claimed to have seen a picture of Mault inside the Capitol Building and was standing beside the killed police officer," the complaint reads.

On Jan. 18, FBI agents spoke with his mother, who told them her husband had driven a bus with five people, including her son, to attend the protest. Later that day, they interviewed Mault, who told them he had gone to D.C. with friends.

He "...stated it was important for everyone to have a group of friends that can rely on each other these days. Mault claimed that he wore his hard hat from work because he was aware of ANTIFA attacking Trump supporters after events in Washington, D.C. and the helmet would provide some level of protection," according to the complaint.

Mault told agents he "got caught up in the crowd" and had not choice but to move closer to the building due to the crush of people.

"Mault ended up right next to an entrance to the Capitol Building but denied entering the Capitol Building. Mault also denied assaulting anyone or damaging property. Mault acknowledged witnessing law enforcement officers being assaulted and property destruction," the complaint reads.

He was shown photos of him using a water bottle to douse the eyes of an unknown man whom he said he did not know.

Authorities were able to discern the man was Mattice. And, they say the two did know each other and were communicating in the days leading up to and after Jan. 6.

"An additional mobile device recorded Mault and Mattice from another angle outside the sally port of the lower west terrace entrance spraying law enforcement officers with a chemical agent," the complaint reads.

"During the events of January 6, 2021, another mobile device captured Mattice and Mault confronting law enforcement officers at a barrier leading up to the Capitol. Mattice is later seen ripping down the barrier, which gave access for the protestors to bypass law enforcement officers," it continues.

A man nearby, the complaint says, "praised Mattice for confronting law enforcement officers after being pepper sprayed."

That man, according to the complaint, was Mault.

Both have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury; civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building; and acts of physical violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings.