4 guilty of conspiracy in latest Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial
Four people associated with the Oath Keepers were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the attack on the U.S. Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment extremist group.
A Washington D.C. jury 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.
In a rare loss for prosecutors, 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 carry a sentence of up to 20 years behind bars.
They 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 that 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 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 has been sentenced yet. Connie Meggs is the wife of Kelly Meggs.