Former Valley City Republican Candidate Pleads Guilty To January 6th Charges

RON JORDAN, KSJB LOCAL NEWS –

A Former Valley City political candidate and North Dakota Young Republicans member has taken a plea deal.  Damian Johnston pled guilty in federal court for charges stemming from the January 6 Capitol riots.  Johnston was charged on September 24 and arrested on September 26 in Appleton, Wisconsin.  An anonymous tip to the FBI led to his arrest.  Johnston pleaded guilty to two counts of Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds.  Other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.  He’ll be sentenced in February.

Johnston served as the Vice Chairman of the North Dakota Young Republicans until February 26 of this year.  He ran and lost a race for Valley City School Board in 2002.