A 52-year-old convicted criminal, who is currently facing charges for attacking individuals at a “Stop the Steal” rally and participating in the Capitol insurrection on January 6th, now has a warrant out for his arrest. The individual, named Kim Michael Sorgente, failed to appear in court in Santa Ana on Tuesday. According to court records, Sorgente claimed to be too ill to attend his preliminary hearing and declined the option to appear via phone. In response, Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Murray issued a bench warrant for Sorgente’s arrest, though it was put on hold until Friday. However, Murray ordered Sorgente to provide a COVID-19 test result or a letter from a doctor by Friday.
Sorgente, who is representing himself without an attorney, previously requested a delay in his preliminary hearing due to significant pain hindering his ability to focus. He stated that while in custody, he had to attend a court hearing despite experiencing abdominal pain. Later, he was advised to have his spleen removed. Sorgente also claimed to require surgery for a rotator cuff injury sustained during the protests. Additionally, he disclosed that he is currently experiencing homelessness.
Back in October 2021, Sorgente was included in a federal complaint charging him with civil disorder and being in a restricted area. The federal investigation began on March 15th, 2021, just two days prior to him being charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon related to a protest in Santa Ana on December 6th. According to the criminal complaint, Sorgente allegedly attacked two individuals with a megaphone during the protest.
FBI agents arrested Sorgente in October 2021, one day after he appeared in court on the assault with a deadly weapon case in Santa Ana. Court records also reveal that Sorgente was previously convicted of carjacking on May 7th, 1996, in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
During the insurrection at the Capitol, Sorgente can be seen in photos wearing a Make America Great Again baseball cap and using a megaphone. The FBI observed him with “numerous rioters” at a police line on the west side of the Capitol around 1:30 p.m. In the midst of the confrontation with the police, Sorgente allegedly shouted at the officers through his megaphone, questioning their loyalty and calling them traitors. He was also captured on body-worn camera footage near the inauguration scaffolding about an hour later, ignoring commands to leave the area. While officers attempted to disperse the crowd, Sorgente continued to confront them and use his megaphone to berate them. The FBI alleges that he even entered a tunnel while officers were trying to control the crowd.
Later, Sorgente offered water to others at the scene and actively participated in pushing against the officers. The FBI states that several rioters threw objects at the officers and used poles to strike them. It appears Sorgente also used water to wash tear gas out of his eyes. The body-worn camera footage shows him joining others to break through a police line and force their way into the tunnel. Eventually, around 4:30 p.m., police pushed Sorgente out of the archway, during which he claimed to have been injured and bleeding.
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