Warren County woman convicted in Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial

Associated Press and staff reports
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A Warren County woman was among four people associated with the Oath Keepers convicted Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment group.

A jury in federal court in Washington, D.C., found Sandra Parker of Morrow, Ohio, Laura Steele of Thomasville, North Carolina, William Isaacs of Kissimmee, Florida, and Connie Meggs of Dunnellon, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges.

Prosecutors said Sandra Parker, wearing military gear, entered the Capitol Building on Jan. 6 while her husband, Bennie Parker, remained outside.
Prosecutors said Sandra Parker, wearing military gear, entered the Capitol Building on Jan. 6 while her husband, Bennie Parker, remained outside.

Sandra Parker’s husband, Bennie Parker, was acquitted of obstruction as well as one conspiracy charge, and a sixth defendant − Michael Greene of Indianapolis − was acquitted of two conspiracy charges.

Jurors said they couldn’t reach a verdict on another conspiracy charge for Bennie Parker and the obstruction charge for Greene, so the judge instructed them to keep deliberating. All six defendants were convicted of a misdemeanor trespassing offense.

Conspiracy to obstruct Congress and obstruction of Congress both are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

According to court documents, Bennie Parker didn't go inside the Capitol that day but stayed outside where he told a reporter: “We had just had a presidential election, and it’s been stolen from us ... all of these people out here are patriots. And if we need to, it’ll come to a civil war, and a lot of people are willing to take up their arms."

More:Capitol riot arrests: Here are Ohioans who have been charged in connection to the attack

Bennie Parker’s attorney, Stephen Brennwald, said after the verdict that his client would rather have been convicted of the serious charges, instead of his wife.

“It’s tearing him up,” Brennwald said.

Attorneys for the other defendants either declined to comment or didn’t immediately respond to emails on Monday.

Combat gear and tactical helmets

According to court documents, Bennie and Sandra Parker checked into an Arlington, Virginia hotel on Jan. 5, 2021, and met with other accused Oath Keepers.

In photos from Jan. 6, the Parkers are seen wearing camouflage combat gear and tactical helmets with "MILITIA" patches on the back.

Prosecutors said Sandra Parker, Meggs, Issacs and Steele were part of the group of Oath Keepers who stormed into the Capitol after marching in military-style “stack” formation up the steps of the building.

Sandra Parker was an employee at the University of Cincinnati's Blue Ash campus from 1982 until 2015, working as a claims analyst, software application developer and ultimately director of institutional research. Bennie Parker worked for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court for many years before retiring in 2016.

Two people outside the Capitol Building Jan. 6 wore helmets with the Ohio state flag and "MILITIA" patches. Court documents identify them as Sandra and Bennie Parker.
Two people outside the Capitol Building Jan. 6 wore helmets with the Ohio state flag and "MILITIA" patches. Court documents identify them as Sandra and Bennie Parker.

The Parkers and their co-defendants were the third group of Oath Keepers members and associates to be tried on serious charges in the riot that temporarily halted the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory and left dozens of police officers injured. Unlike other Oath Keepers, they were not charged with seditious conspiracy — the most serious offense prosecutors have levied so far in the attack.

In November, Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs — who led the Oath Keepers’ Florida chapter — were convicted of seditious conspiracy. Three other Oath Keepers were cleared of the charge in that case but were found guilty of other serious crimes. After a second trial, four additional Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy in January. Seditious conspiracy calls for up to 20 years in prison. None of the Oath Keepers have been sentenced yet.

Connie Meggs, who was convicted Monday, is the wife of Kelly Meggs.

Oath Keepers denied there was plot

The Oath Keepers have denied there was any plot to storm the Capitol or stop the certification. Defense lawyers have argued that their clients came to Washington only to watch then-President Donald Trump speak or provide security for speakers at events prior to the riot and that those who entered the Capitol did so spontaneously.

Greene, the man acquitted of two conspiracy charges, took the stand during Rhodes’ trial in November and said he never heard anyone discussing plans to storm the Capitol. Rhodes told jurors during that case that he tapped Greene as an “operation leader” for Jan. 6 after meeting Greene in 2017, when they helped with disaster relief after Hurricane Harvey.

Greene said he wasn’t a dues-paying member of the Oath Keepers but worked essentially as a contractor, providing security services, and was asked to come to Washington to help with security operations for events around the Capitol before the riot.

More than half of the roughly 1,000 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes have pleaded guilty, including more than 130 who pleaded guilty to felony crimes. Of the 400 who have been sentenced, more than half have gotten terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years, according to an Associated Press tally.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Warren County woman convicted in Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial