WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Maryland attorney and federal employee is facing felony assault charges after allegedly spitting on two uniformed National Guard soldiers stationed outside Union Station on August 22.
The suspect, Scott J. Pichon, 33, approached the soldiers on a Lime scooter around 4:43 p.m., made a noise as if clearing mucus from his throat, and allegedly spat a mixture of saliva and mucus at both servicemembers—striking one in the face and the other in the neck, according to court documents.
The soldiers, members of the South Carolina Army National Guard, were in Washington as part of a federally coordinated security deployment.
The incident was reportedly captured on surveillance footage. Pichon was arrested four days later on a federal warrant and appeared in court on August 26, where he was formally charged with forcibly assaulting personnel performing official duties—a felony offense under federal law.
Pichon Identified as FAA Analyst and Licensed Attorney
During his court appearance, Pichon confirmed that he holds a Juris Doctor degree, and records show he has been licensed to practice law in Maryland since 2019.
In addition to his legal credentials, Pichon has been employed as a Program Analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since 2020, according to ZoomInfo.com. His federal service record includes previous roles at the Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Civil Rights, where he worked as a Presidential Management Fellow and Equal Opportunity Specialist focused on equity enforcement and regulatory oversight, particularly involving the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
Pichon has also held legal internships and externships with various federal transportation agencies.
National Guard Presence in D.C.
At the time of the incident, the South Carolina National Guard was one of several out-of-state units deployed to the District of Columbia to support a public safety mission. As part of a federal policing initiative, troops from multiple states—including Ohio, Louisiana, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Tennessee—have been patrolling D.C. since mid-August. While National Guard personnel do not have arrest authority, they are tasked with maintaining a security presence in key areas.
This is not the first assault reported during the federal law enforcement surge. Earlier in the month, a separate individual was arrested for allegedly throwing a sandwich at a federal officer. That case also resulted in felony charges.
Pichon was released on his own recognizance without objection from prosecutors. He is scheduled to return to court on September 16 for a preliminary hearing unless a grand jury returns an indictment before then.
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