Trumbull Co. man could face 6-month sentence for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
A Champion man plead guilty Wednesday to reduced charges for his role in the taking part in the U.S. Capitol riots on January 6.
39-year-old Stephen Ayre signed a plea deal to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds at his hearing at the Federal Court in the District of Columbia Wednesday. Three other counts were dismissed.
Ayre will be sentenced via video conference on Sept. 13 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by Judge John Bates.
In the court filing, the estimated penalty in his case will be based on the offense level and the suspect's criminal history.
According to the court document, Ayres has no previous criminal history, and based on the offense, may be facing up to 6 months in prison.
The court may also impose a fine ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, though Ayres has the right to request no fines for his case.
Ayres signed a statement admitting that he made a social media post claiming that the "mainstream media, social media, Democrat party, FISA courts, Chief Justice John Roberts, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, etc....all have committed TREASON against a sitting U.S. president! !! All are now put on notice by 'We The People!"
He also admitted attending the "Stop the Steal" rally and then marched with other protestors parading and chanting inside the Capitol for approximately ten minutes.
More than 700 people have been charged in connection with the effort to stop congress from certifying Joseph Biden as the winner in the race for US President in 2020.
Ayers, along with Mathew Perna of Sharon, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of witness tampering for obstructing an official proceeding, entering a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in the capitol building.
Perna committed suicide in February, one year after he and Ayers were indicted.
According to an affidavit, Ayres unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol building and had posted a video of himself inside the Capitol building as well as in a hotel room to Facebook later that day.
Ayers, along with five other people from the Valley have been indicted in connection with the Capitol insurrection.
Julia Jeanette Sizer of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty in November to one count of parading, demonstrating, and picketing in the Capitol Building.
Philip Vogel II and Debra Maimone, both of New Castle, Pennsylvania are each charged with theft of U.S. Property, entering the temporary residence of the president, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and violent entry on Capitol grounds.
Rachel Powell, a mother of eight from Sandy Lake, Mercer County, Pennsylvania faces trial on charges including obstruction, destruction of US property over $1,000, entering a restricted building or property with a dangerous weapon, entering a restricted building/property, and disorderly conduct.
Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas, 38, of East Liverpool, Ohio is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; and engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds.
