Judge denies bail for Helmetta man accused of eluding police, participating in Capitol riot
Gregory Yetman, 47, appeared in federal court in Trenton on Monday, three days after surrendering to police following a multiday manhunt.
A federal judge has denied bail for the Helmetta man accused of eluding police officers who were serving him a warrant related to his alleged participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol.
Gregory Yetman, 47, appeared in federal court in Trenton on Monday, three days after surrendering to police following a multiday manhunt.
Yetman’s attorney had tried to convince the judge to release him into the custody of his mother and brother. Yetman’s mother was in the courtroom, along with one of her other sons. She did not offer any comment.
The judge referenced Yetman’s flight from FBI agents last week while deciding to deny bail.
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment his conduct was reckless for almost two days," Judge Tonianne Bongiovanni said. “His actions were unwise and short-sighted.”
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The United States attorney prosecuting the case stated that police found weapons in Yetman’s home car and at a storage site. The prosecutor also stated that Yetman had been hiding in the water for 14 hours after fleeing from police last Wednesday when FBI agents had raided his house on Main Street.
Yetman surrendered to the Monroe Township police on Friday, three and a half miles from his home.
Authorities say there are photos of Yetman at the Capitol. They say that in one of those photos he can be seen using a large canister of pepper spray on police and the crowd of protesters.
Yetman will face charges that include, assaulting, resisting or impeding capitol police officers. He’s also accused of entering and remaining in a restricted building and acts of physical violence in the Capitol.
Yetman is now awaiting transfer to Washington D.C. where he will next have a preliminary hearing.
