Here is the latest on the 64 Ohioans charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection
The latest Ohioan convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is a pastor who federal authorities say preached election denialism to his Coshocton County congregation.
William Dunfee, 58, of Frazeysburg, was convicted Monday by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton in a bench trial in Washington D.C. of obstruction of an official proceeding or aiding and abetting, civil disorder and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.
Dunfee, the pastor at New Beginnings Ministry in Warsaw, twice pushed a metal barricade against Capitol officers and used a bullhorn to rally the crowd, according to videos from Jan. 6, 2021.
Walton will sentence Dunfee on May 24.
Context: Some Ohioans sentenced for Jan. 6 insurrection blame actions on extremist media
Federal authorities continue to arrest and prosecute suspects and have charged 64 Ohioans as of the recent third anniversary of the attack that temporarily interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory in the 2020 general election. Biden also overwhelmingly won the popular vote.
With Dunfee’s conviction, 50 Ohioans have been convicted, at trial or by pleading guilty. Of those, 44 have been sentenced. Six defendants have been convicted and are waiting for sentencing and 14 suspects were charged, but their cases have not been resolved.
The most recent sentencing was of Ryan Swoope, 29, of Perry. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden sentenced Swoope on Jan. 9 to four years and three months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
Swoope previously pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. He pepper-sprayed a Capitol Police sergeant in the face, according to federal prosecutors.
Here is where all the cases stand for Ohioans who have been charged with participating in the Jan. 6, 2011, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Some ages were unavailable in court records, while some ages listed may be from the defendant's arrest or sentencing.
Pending cases
Jared Hunter Adams, 27, of Hilliard, was arrested in 2021 and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building. His next court date is scheduled in February.
Therese Mauer Borgerding, of Piqua, was arrested in July 2021. She has since been charged in a superseding indictment with civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Court documents allege Borgerding, her husband and Walter Messer were there together. No charges have been filed against Borgerding's husband. According to the documents, a YouTube video shows Therese Borgerding moving metal barricades and entering Capitol grounds, and surveillance footage shows her inside. Her jury trial is currently scheduled for this month, but her attorney has asked the judge to postpone.
Trevor Cain, 38, of Aurora, was arrested in June and charged with felony obstruction of an official proceeding and multiple misdemeanor counts. His next court date is scheduled for March.
Shawndale and Donald Chilcoat, a couple from Celina, were both indicted in September 2022 on charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining in the gallery of Congress; disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds; parade, demonstrate or picket in any of the Capitol buildings; obstruction or impeding any official proceeding. Their trial is still pending.
Joshua Coker, 45, of Oregon, Lucas County, in northwest Ohio, was arrested in July and charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, entering and remaining in the Gallery of Congress, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
Jonathan Joseph Copeland, 28, of Fort Shawnee, was arrested in August 2022 and accused of shoving a large metal sign into officers. He is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury; civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His jury trial is set for February.
Robert and Steven Hanna, 39-year-old twin brothers from Dayton, were arrested in July. Both Hanna brothers are charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Their next court date is later this month.
Dean Robert Harshman, 36, of Waynesville, was arrested in July and charged with obstruction or impeding an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 13.
Jared Kastner, 26, of Beavercreek, was arrested in December 2021 and charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His jury trial is scheduled for April.
Dustin Martin, 29, of Grove City, was arrested in June along with his friend, Cody Tippett (see below), whom he drove with to Washington. According to court records, Martin posted on Facebook: “So now I can say I’ve been hit with rubber bullets, bear mace, pepper spray, tear gas, and wrestle with Capital Police (sic) … I’ll do it all over again too!” Martin is charged with obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He remains free while his case continues in court.
Adrian Schmidt, 25, of Cincinnati, was arrested in July and charged with obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. According to court records, Schmidt posted on Facebook after the riot: “They felt us in their bones with every step they took as they fled the building that they have gotten way to(sic) comfortable in.”
Benjamin Michael Shuler, 28, of Grove City, was arrested in September while in an Ohio prison in Lancaster, serving a sentence for aggravated vehicular homicide. He is charged with civil disorder; assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. His case in federal court is pending.
Convicted, awaiting sentencing
Donovan Ray Crowl, 50, of Champaign County, was convicted in a bench trial by a judge on July 12 of conspiracy to obstruct the electoral college vote count and civil disorder. His sentencing is pending. Court records indicate Crowl was a member of the Ohio State Regular Militia, a dues-paying subset of the Oath Keepers led by Jessica Watkins. Crowl, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf in 1990, was featured in a New Yorker article.
William Dunfee, 58, of Frazeysburg, the pastor of a Warsaw church, was convicted in a bench trial in January 2024 of obstruction of an official proceeding or aiding and abetting, civil disorder and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. His sentencing is scheduled for May 24.
Ethan C. Seitz, 34, of Sandusky, was convicted in August by a judge in a stipulated trial of obstruction of an official proceeding and disorderly or disruptive behavior in a restricted building. His motion to postpone his sentencing was granted until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Fischer v. United States, a case brought by a Jan. 6 defendant challenging the Justice Department’s interpretation of the obstruction of an official proceeding charge. According to court records, Seitz posted about entering the Capitol building in real-time on Facebook. In one post, he wrote, “I’m goin (sic) in the capitol” and in another, “I just climbed in through a broken window.”
Cody Lee Tippett, 32, of Grove City, was arrested in June along with Dustin Martin. According to court records, Tippett’s former federal probation officer identified him in photos. He had a prior conviction in an OxyContin ring. Tippett pleaded guilty in December to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His sentencing is scheduled for April 4.
Clifford Mackrell, 22, of Wellington, pleaded guilty in October to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, admitting that he assaulted a U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officer. His sentencing is set for March.
Michael Mackrell, 42, of Wellington, Clifford’s father, pleaded guilty in October to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers in the District of Columbia. His sentencing is also set for March.
Sentenced
Stephen M. Ayres, 39, of Trumbull County, pleaded guilty to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Steven Billingsly, 45, of Richmond, pleaded guilty to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: two years probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Gabriel Burress, 22, of the Toledo area, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 18 months probation and $500 restitution.
Luke Faulkner, of Blanchester, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 30 days home confinement, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Troy E. Faulkner, 41, of Whitehall, pleaded guilty to destruction of government property. Sentence: five months in prison, three years supervised release and $10,560 restitution.
Timothy Allen Hart, 52, of Huber Heights, was seen in a video knocking down barriers manned by police officers outside the Capitol and smoking in the rotunda. He pleaded guilty to civil disorder. Sentence: three years probation, $2,000 restitution.
James Matthew Horning, 46, of New Holland, pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, one-year probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Derek Jancart, 39, of Canal Winchester, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Sentence: 45 days incarceration and $500 restitution.
Caleb Jones, 23, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, including two months home confinement and $500 restitution.
Terry Lynn Lindsey, 53, of Piqua, pleaded guilty to violent entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building and to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: five months in prison, three years probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Saul Llamas, 30, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: one year and six months of probation, 120 hours of community service, $500 in restitution, and $2,500 fine.
Michael Scott Lockwood, 32, of Warren, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. Sentence: one year and one day in prison, 36 months of supervised release.
Robert Lyon, 28, of Reynoldsburg, pleaded guilty to disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: 40 days of incarceration, one year supervised release, $1,000 fine and $2,000 restitution.
Kenneth Duncan Massie, of Greenfield, pleaded guilty to demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 30 days home confinement and $500 restitution.
David Mehaffie, 63, of Kettering, was found guilty in a bench trial of four offenses, including aiding and abetting in assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers and interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Sentence: 14 months in prison and two years probation.
Walter J. Messer, 52, of Englewood, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, $500 restitution.
Adam Miller, 41, of Smithville, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, three years probation, $500 fine and $500 restitution.
Brandon Miller, 34, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Sentence: 20 days incarceration, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Stephanie Miller, 30, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, picketing, or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Sentence: 14 days incarceration, 60 hours of community service and $500 restitution.
Sandra Ruth Parker, 63, and her husband, Bennie Alvin Parker, 72, of Morrow, worked with Jessica Watkins and other members of the Oath Keepers on Jan. 6, 2021. A jury convicted the Parkers in March. Sandra was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to prevent members of Congress from discharging their duties; destruction of government property; obstructing officers during a civil disorder; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Bennie was acquitted of some charges but found guilty of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Sandra Parker’s sentence: five years of probation, including one year of home confinement. Bennie Parker’s sentence: five years probation, including six months of home confinement.
Madison Pettit, 20, of the Toledo area, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 18 months of probation and $500 restitution.
Christine Priola, 49, of Willoughby, pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding. Sentence: 15 months in prison, one year supervised release and $2,000 restitution.
Erik Rau, 43, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Sentence: 45 days incarceration and $500 restitution.
Oliver Louis Sarko, 27, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, 36 months probation and $500 restitution.
Jordan Siemers, 25, arrested in Geneva, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating of picketing in a capitol building. Sentence: one year of probation, 60 hours of community service, $500 restitution and $1,500 fine.
Paul Lee Seymour Sr., 61, of Butler County, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: one-year probation, 60 hours of community service and $500 restitution.
Paul Lee Seymour Jr., 33, of Butler County, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: one-year probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Alexander Sheppard, 24, of Powell, was convicted at trial of five criminal counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building. Sentence: one year and seven months in prison.
Justin Michael Smith, 22, of Garfield Heights, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building. Sentence: three years of probation, $500 restitution.
Devin Steiner, 41, of Wooster, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, three years probation, $500 fine and $500 restitution.
Justin Stoll, 40, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty on Jan. 20, 2022, to transmitting a threat to injure. Sentence: two years probation.
Ryan Swoope, 29, of Perry, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. Sentence: four years and three months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
Cole Andrew Temple, 20, of Swanton, pleaded guilty to knowingly entering the U.S. Capitol building without permission and knowingly parading, demonstrating or picketing. Sentence: three years probation.
Jodi Lynn Wilson, 43, of Swanton, who is the mother of Cole Temple (above), pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 20 days in prison, three years probation.
Dustin Byron Thompson, 38, of Columbus, was convicted by a jury of obstruction of an official proceeding and five misdemeanor counts after he argued at trial that Trump directed him to attack the Capitol, where Thompson stole a coat rack, a bottle of liquor and an officer’s pager. Sentence: three years in prison, three years supervised release and $2,000 restitution.
Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas, 41, of East Liverpool, was convicted of assault charges and other offenses for attacking multiple officers. He is appealing his case. Sentence: four years and 10 months in prison, $20,000 fine and $2,000 restitution.
Colton Wargo, 27, of Westlake, and his mother, Kimberly Wargo, 57, of North Olmsted, both pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully parading, picketing and demonstrating in a Capitol building. Both were sentenced to two weeks in prison, three years probation and $500 restitution.
Jessica Watkins, 40, of Woodstock, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties. Sentence: eight years, six months in prison and three years supervised release.
John Douglas Wright, 56, of Canton, pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding and aiding and abetting. Sentence: four years, one month in prison, three years supervised release and $2,000 restitution.
Abigail Yazdani-Isfehani, 28, of Albany, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Loammi (Elijah) Yazdani-Isfehani, 32, of Albany, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 14 days incarceration, two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.
Loruhamah Yazdani-Isfehani, 34, of Logan, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.
jlaird@dispatch.com
@LairdWrites
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio residents still getting arrested for Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection
