Willoughby woman sentenced to 15 months in prison for role in Jan. 6 Capitol breach
A former Cleveland schools occupational therapist who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, with one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 restitution for her role in disrupting the certification of electors in the 2020 presidential election.
In a plea agreement, Christine Priola, 50, of Willoughby, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to a felony count of obstruction of an official proceeding. Her attorney, Charles E. Langmack II of Willoughby, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
More:From both sides of aisle, local and state lawmakers condemn Capitol havoc
According to court documents, Priola illegally entered the restricted area on the east side of the Capitol building after joining the front lines of the riot that disrupted Congress' certification of electors. She then climbed the steps and entered the Capitol building through the east rotunda doors, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Priola went inside soon after the first rioters overcame law enforcement officers guarding the entrance, then moved to the Senate chamber and entered the restricted floor area, the Justice Department said.
While in the chamber, she carried a sign and remained in the Senate chamber for about 10 minutes. All told, she was inside the Capitol building for approximately 30 minutes, according to the DOJ.
According to an FBI affidavit in the case, the bureau received a tip via Twitter on Jan. 8, 2021, that identified Priola in one of the images of people inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The agent who filed the affidavit said he learned that Priola had resigned from Cleveland schools on Jan. 7, and sometime between Jan. 6 and Jan. 12, she deleted photos, videos, chats and messages from Jan. 4 to Jan. 12.
Priola cited conspiracy theories in resignation from Cleveland schools
Beacon Journal partner News 5 Cleveland reported Wednesday that Priola's Jan. 7 resignation was submitted the same day the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department released a series of photos of persons of interest in unrest-related offenses at the Capitol.
One photo shows Priola holding a sign that read, in part, "The Children Cry Out for Justice," and pointing a phone at another person in the seat of the vice president.
In her resignation letter, which was in her personnel file News 5 obtained from the school district, Priola repeated unfounded conspiracy theories linked with QAnon:
I am leaving CMSD for the following reasons:
1. I will not be taking the corona virus 19 vaccine in order to return to in person learning.
2. I will be switching paths to expose the global evil of human trafficking and pedophilia, including in our government and children’s service agencies.
3. I do not agree with my union dues which help fund people and groups that support the killing of unborn children.
I will be working on completing paperwork and will not be seeing students virtually.
The core of QAnon is the false belief that Donald Trump was elected to root out a secret child-sex trafficking ring run by Democratic politicians and celebrities.
News 5 reported that Priola's personnel file with Cleveland schools shows she was first hired in 2000 and has been continuously employed with the district since 2014.
Priola was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021, and had faced a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and financial penalties of up to $70,000, according to her plea agreement.
According to DOJ, more than 850 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 260 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
Other area residents charged in Jan. 6 breach
A Trumbull County man, Stephen Michael Ayres, who was 38 at the time of his arrest in January 2021, was charged with obstruction of justice/Congress, unlawful entry into restricted buildings or grounds, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
In a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to unlawful entry into restricted buildings or grounds and was sentenced in September to 24 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $500 restitution.
The cases of Devin Steiner and his brother-in-law Adam Miller, both of Wayne County, remain pending. They were arrested in May.
Cases are also pending against Justin Michael Smith, 20, of Brunswick, and Kimberly Wargo, 55, of Olmsted Falls, and her son, Colton Wargo, 26, of Westlake, who were also arrested in May.
The overall investigation into the Capitol breach remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit the Capitol breach website at www.justice.gov/usao-dc/capitol-breach-investigation-resource-page.
Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Former Cleveland schools staffer gets 15 months prison for Jan. 6 role
