| Advertisement |
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A judge in Washington, D.C., has ordered the leader of the far-right Proud Boys to appear in court for allegedly violating the terms of his release from jail last month. D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun set a Feb. 22 virtual hearing for Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, 33. The Pretrial Services Agency said Tarrio, who lives in Miami, failed to check in as required.
Advertisement
Tarrio was arrested Jan. 4 in Washington, D.C., for allegedly burning a Black Lives Matter banner hanging at the Asbury United Methodist Church during protests in support of former President Donald Trump.
He faces a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property for the flag burning in addition to two felony counts of possession of high-capacity ammunition weapons, which police said they found during Tarrio's arrest.
Tarrio told The Washington Post he "repeatedly" tried to call the Pretrial Services Agency to check in.
"They don't make it easy to reach them. I will call them right now."
The Anti-Defamation League describes the Proud Boys on its website as "an unconventional strain of American right-wing extremism" and is often characterized as misogynistic with links to White nationalism. Its members are also known to engage in violence with several convicted of violent crimes, the anti-hate group said.
His arrest came two days before multiple members of the Proud Boys allegedly participated in a violent mob attack at the U.S. Capitol. At least five have been arrested and charged with conspiracy.
