Two Illinois men arrested for $40K in January 6 damages

Liz Dowell
·2 min read
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McLEANSBORO, Ill. — Two men from McLeansboro have been arrested for their participation in the January 6, 2021, criminal activity at the US Capitol building. Federal documents state that they were part of the group that damaged the U.S. Capitol, causing over $40,000 in damages. Their actions, along with others, disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress to count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Justin LaGesse, 37, and Theodore Middendorf, 36, are charged with felony destruction of property. The FBI arrested LaGesse and Middendorf on January 17 in Illinois, and they will be held in court at the Southern District of Illinois.

According to court documents, Justin LaGesse illegally entered the U.S. Capitol building at approximately 2:50 p.m. through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door. LaGesse then assisted Middendorf in entering through the same broken window.

LaGesse carried a yellow Gadsden flag, and Middendorf carried an American flag. After entering the building, the two proceeded towards the Crypt, carrying their respective flags on their shoulders.

They entered the Crypt and continued south into the House of Representatives side of the Capitol. Around 3:00 p.m., the men passed by the House Wing Door emergency exit, with Middendorf recording the events with his cell phone. From there, they made their way to the Hall of Columns and eventually exited the Capitol through the South Door.

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The window that Middendorf and LaGesse both struck sustained $41,315 in damage, according to the Architect of the Capitol.

In the 36 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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