Ohioans charged in connection with US Capitol breach

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — More than 250 federal cases have been brought against individuals who allegedly took part in or helped plot the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. At least 10 of those cases were against Ohio residents identified through social media and surveillance footage to the FBI.

In the days and weeks following the assault, a Whitehall man was arrested after he was seen on video wearing a jacket with his painting company's name on the back while he kicked in a Capitol building window. A Cleveland school occupational therapist was arrested after social media users linked her to photos taken in the chamber of the U.S. Senate. Two Columbus-area men were charged after one was caught on Capitol surveillance footage allegedly stealing a coat rack. The group of Ohio residents also include four people linked to the farright Oath Keepers militia group who have been indicted on charges that they planned and coordinated with one another in the attack.

Here are the Ohioans charged in the U.S. Capitol breach:

TROY ELBERT FAULKNER — suburban Columbus. The 39-yearold owner of Faulkner Painting in Columbus was arrested Jan. 29 on charges that include the destruction of government property, obstruction of an official proceeding and violent entry.

In U.S. District Court documents, officials provided a still photo of Faulkner wearing a jacket that bared his company name on the back while part of a mob of Trump supporters who smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol. A few days after the riot, Faulkner posted on Facebook that "we weren't fighting against antifa we were fighting against the government," according to the complaint.

Faulkner later contacted the FBI'S hotline and reported "his destruction of the U.S. Capitol's shutter in Washington, D.C."

STEPHEN MICHAEL AYRES — northeast Ohio. FBI arrested 38-year-old Ayres on Jan. 25 and charged him with illegally entering the Capitol building after he was identified by a family member and through Facebook posts he had made before, during, and after the insurrection.

According to a criminal complaint, Ayres, of northeast Ohio, and an unnamed man in a video posted to Facebook discuss how police escorted them from one end of the Capitol to the other. Police "basically let everyone walk in," Ayres said in the video.

In a separate live video, Ayres says that the Capitol breach "was just the beginning" and there was "more to come next week."

DUSTIN THOMPSON and ROBERT LYON — suburban Columbus. Dustin Thompson, 36, and Robert Lyon, 27, were charged on Jan. 22 with illegally entering the Capitol and violent and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Thompson is also accused of stealing the coat rack. The two men drove to Washington together for the insurrection and it was Thompson's idea to go, Lyon told FBI agents.

Thompson's attorney told AP his client, who repairs furniture for a living, was inspired by lies about election fraud told by Trump and his backers.

Lyon's public defender declined to comment.

JUSTIN STOLL — southwest Ohio. Stoll was arrested and charged on Jan. 15 with making interstate threats and threatening a witness after posting videos from the U.S. Capitol riots. The charges are not directly related to any activities at the federal building but in connection to the deadly breach.

The 40-year-old is accused of declaring in one video taken on Jan. 6, "D.C.'S a war zone!...you ain't got enough cops, baby! We are at war at the Capitol…. We have taken the Capitol. This is our country."

When one Youtube viewer said they'd saved his video, Stoll warned that if the viewer took action to "ever jeopardize me, from being with my family," then the person would meet his or her maker, and that he would be the one to "arrange the meeting," according to a federal complaint.

Stoll's federal public defender and federal prosecutors have both asked for a delay in the case because of limitations on how frequently federal grand juries can meet now because of the pandemic. It was granted and the government has until April 30 to file an indictment.

CHRISTINE PRIOLA — Cleveland. Christine Priola, 49, was arrested on Jan. 14 at her home after social media users linked her to photos taken in the chamber of the U.S. Senate amid protesters reveling and trespassing.

Federal prosecutors charged her with entering a restricted building, violent entry and unlawful activities on Capitol grounds.

Before being charged, Priola submitted a resignation letter to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, where she worked as an occupational therapist.

THE OATH KEEPERS DONOVAN CROWL and JESSICA WATKINS — northwest Ohio. The Champaign County residents were among the first to be charged on Jan. 19 with plotting the deadly attack on the Capitol.

Officials say Watkins, 38, and Crowl, 50 are members of the Ohio State Regular Militia, a dues-paying subset of the right-wing group the Oath Keepers.

Both were charged with federal counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business and destruction of government property. Federal agents say the group Watkins and Crowl were apart of seemed to "move in an organized and practiced fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the U.S. Capitol."

SANDRA PARKER and BENNIE PARKER — southwest Ohio. Authorities say Bennie Parker, 70, was in contact with fellow Oath Keepers member Watkins leading up to the trip to Jan. 6 to Washington D.C., discussing things like the uniforms and gear they would bring. After following the mob of rioters to the Capitol steps, his wife Sandra Parker, 60, entered the building while he stayed in contact outside, according to the complaint.

The couple has been accused of forcibly storming the Capitol, planning their attack in advance and communicating with other members of the Oath Keepers throughout the process.