A Texas man pardoned by President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot was arrested Sunday after allegedly pulling a gun on a father loading his child into a car outside a Houston-area church.
Daniel Goodwyn, 36, faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the incident at Grace Community Church in The Woodlands. Police say Goodwyn threatened the victim during a dispute in the church parking lot, pointing a firearm at him while the man was securing his young child in a vehicle.
The arrest comes less than four months after Trump pardoned Goodwyn as part of a sweeping clemency action for January 6 defendants. Goodwyn had served time in federal prison after pleading guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol breach. During his sentencing, he told the court he had “completely changed” and expressed remorse for his actions.
According to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office records, witnesses reported seeing Goodwyn brandish the weapon during a confrontation that escalated rapidly. The victim immediately contacted authorities. Goodwyn was taken into custody without incident and is being held on $40,000 bond.
The case raises questions about the vetting process behind the January 6 pardons, which freed more than 1,500 defendants including those convicted of violent offenses against police officers. Critics argued at the time that blanket clemency would return dangerous individuals to the streets. Supporters countered that prosecutions were politically motivated and that defendants deserved a second chance.
Goodwyn’s attorney has not yet commented on the new charges. Church officials confirmed an incident occurred on their property but declined to provide details, citing the ongoing investigation.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office will handle prosecution of the state charges. Unlike his federal case, this matter falls outside presidential pardon authority—governors control clemency for state crimes, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not indicated any interest in the case.
Goodwyn is scheduled for arraignment later this week. If convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Texas, he faces between two and 20 years in prison. The enhanced charge stems from the use of a firearm and the presence of the child during the alleged threat.
Federal authorities have not commented on whether the new arrest could affect Goodwyn’s pardoned status, though legal experts note that presidential pardons cannot be revoked once granted.
Key Points
- Texas man freed in Trump’s January 6 pardon arrested for allegedly threatening churchgoer with gun while victim loaded child into car
- Goodwyn served federal time for assaulting officers at Capitol, claimed he was reformed during sentencing
- New state charges fall outside presidential clemency authority and could bring up to 20 years if convicted
