Three years after January 6th Capitol incursion, two Valley residents prepare for prison
On the eve of the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021, incursion at the U.S. Capitol, two of the nine Valley residents convicted for their roles in the effort to stop Congress from certifying Joseph Biden as winner of the 2020 election are preparing to begin their prison sentences.
Forty-three-year-old Rachel Powell, a mother and grandmother from Sandy Lake, has been ordered to surrender to authorities after Friday, January 5 to begin serving a 57-month sentence.
Often referred to as "pink hat lady" or "bullhorn lady", Powell was convicted of nine charges including civil disorder, obstruction, destruction of U.S. property, entering a restricted building or property with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct.
Prosecutors say Powell pushed against barricades and used an ice axe and a battering ram to break through a window to breach the Capitol, encouraging other rioters to enter the building.
Government attorneys claim that instead of showing remorse, Powell continued to call for political violence after January 6.
Kenneth Thomas, 41, of East Liverpool is scheduled to begin serving a 58-month sentence at a federal prison in Memphis, Tennessee on January 18.
A jury found Thomas guilty of civil disorder, four counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer, entering, or remaining in a restricted building and grounds, and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
Investigators say Thomas led assaults on five officers during the Capitol incursion.
The judge who passed the sentence recently denied Thomas’ request to serve his sentence at a prison closer to his East Liverpool home.
Both Powell and Thomas are pursuing appeals of their convictions.
Of the nine people from the Valley convicted for January 6 offenses, only Thomas and Powell did not accept negotiated pleas.
Seven other people from the Valley who were convicted in connection with the Capitol breach were not sentenced to prison.
Michael Scott Lockwood, 32, of Southington, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 months and one day in prison and 36 months of supervised release after having pled guilty to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers on July 24.
Two people from New Castle, Phillip Vogel II and Debra Maimone were convicted of aiding and abetting the theft of U.S. property.
Vogel II was sentenced to 30 days in jail followed by one year of supervised release. Maimone was sentenced to two years’ probation. Each was ordered to make $1,806 restitution.
Brian and Julia Sizer of Ellwood City were both placed on probation for a year for entering the Capitol during the disturbance.
Stephen Ayers of Champion, who made national headlines when he testified before the House select committee hearing into the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol, was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to entering the temporary residence of the president and disorderly conduct in the Capitol.
Ayer’s companion that day at the Capitol, Matthew Perna of Sharpsville, pleaded guilty to charges of witness tampering, disorderly conduct, and two counts of entering a restricted building or grounds. Perna took his own life before he could be sentenced.
Since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol.
