CHAMA, NEW MEXICO—In a surprising turn of events, a Chama man convicted of assaulting two Capitol Police officers in the wake of the January 6 riot had his charges dismissed last week thanks to a pardon from former President Donald Trump. Rockne Gerard Earles, 64, had pleaded guilty to two felony assault charges in September of the previous year for his role in the attacks on the officers, court documents reveal.
One of the assaults, captured on video, showed Earles grappling with an officer and pulling him down the steps outside the Capitol Building, resulting in the officer sustaining injuries severe enough to require hospitalization for a concussion. The second assault involved Earles hurling a 20-ounce bottle of Gatorade at another officer, narrowly missing the target’s head.
Federal prosecutors recommended a 52-month prison sentence for Earles, but with Trump’s blanket pardon for nearly 1,600 individuals connected to the Capitol attack, the judge overseeing the case decided to dismiss the charges against Earles and ordered his release.
Earles was one of five New Mexicans facing legal repercussions for their involvement in the riot, and notably, he also listed residency in Fargo, North Dakota. Another individual, Couy Griffin, a former Otero County commissioner, and founder of Cowboys for Trump, announced his decision to decline a presidential pardon, opting to challenge his conviction instead.
In a dramatic twist, Griffin was captured on video during the January 6 attack at the Capitol, standing on the terrace surrounded by a raucous crowd of protesters waving flags. Despite being sentenced to 14 days in jail for entering a restricted area outside the U.S. Capitol, Griffin stood firm in his decision to reject the pardon and pursue a legal battle.
Earles had been arrested in Chama in April of the same year after facing eight charges from a federal grand jury. He ultimately pled guilty to two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, facing a potential eight-year prison term and $250,000 in restitution. The prosecution recommended a 52-month prison sentence, 36 months of supervised release, and $2,000 in restitution. Testimony highlighted how Earles and other rioters breached a police line at the Capitol, attempting to force their way through a doorway, with Earles physically obstructing an officer to allow others to pass.