2 Rochester-area men accused in US Capitol attack plead not guilty

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Cody Mattice, 28, of Hilton and James Mault, 29, from Brockport, were arraigned Tuesday afternoon via video conference in a D.C. Federal Court. The two local men are charged in the U.S. Capitol riot. They pleaded not guilty.

The defense attorneys for both Mattice and Mault asked Judge Robin Merriweather for more time to possibly work out a deal with the prosecution before trial. The judge granted that request.

News10NBC got our hands on some new video from the Jan. 6 attack. It shows both Mattice and Mault climbing over a crowd to get above police shields where officers were huddled. The two men are accused of spraying officers with a chemical at the U.S. Capitol.

They both pleaded not guilty to a list of charges including assaulting police, engaging in violence and having weapons in a restricted building.

Mattice, a stay-at-home dad from Hilton, has been moved to the Central Detention Facility in D.C. One of his attorneys has said her client is a victim of former President Trump.

Mault, a soldier in the Army from Brockport, was arrested at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and has been held in a federal facility in Raleigh. He claims he was caught up in the crowd at the capitol.

At this point, Mattice and Mault are both being held until trial. A status hearing is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.