WASHINGTON, D.C. (AZFamily) — A couple from Surprise has been charged in connection to the Jan, 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Kiera and David Pracht were arrested in August and charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful activity, intent to disrupt the orderly conduct of government business, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and demonstrating in a Capitol building.
The charges allege the Prachts were among hundreds of people who amassed at the U.S. Capitol and breached the Capitol building in an effort to disrupt the certification of electors in the 2020 Presidential election.
According to the George Washington University Program on Extremism, more than 1,100 cases have been filed in connection to Jan. 6.
In federal court documents, a special agent with the FBI’s Phoenix Division details the allegations against the couple and how investigators traced their movements before, during and after Jan. 6, 2021.
Investigators said they had a search warrant for cellphone data for devices in and around the U.S. Capitol from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 and one number that was in the area and inside the U.S. Capitol building came back to Kiara Pracht.
“K. Pracht’s device was identified within the restricted area for approximately 44 minutes from 2:18 p.m. to 3:03 p.m.,” an FBI agent wrote.
Agents noted 11 days after, on Jan. 11, 2021, a tip came into the FBI showing a screenshot of a Facebook post reportedly from Kiera Pracht saying, “Was on the steps at the Capitol building when it was stormed (ended up inside because the flow was going that way) ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ are demanding justice! Not sure how News is reporting it but there was little violence while we were there-chaos, yes!”
Later that month, the FBI received another tip about Kiera Pracht, saying, “Person was at rally Jan. 6 Facebook post now deleted. Stating was there on the steps and pushed into Capitol with crowd. Says has photos.”
FBI agents also found the Prachts in open-source video on the East Rotunda steps.
Along with obtaining the data of devices around and inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, federal investigators executed search warrants on the Pracht’s Facebook and Google accounts, backpacks and their home in Surprise, which in a photo from investigators shows bunting outside and an American flag that appears to be upside down.
In court paperwork, the Phoenix FBI agent said they reviewed surveillance and body-camera video from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and identified Kiera and David Pracht “barelling [sic] through a bottleneck of rioters and past U.S. Capitol Police officers.”
The agent noted they were seen coming through the doors of the East Rotunda at 2:43 p.m., 20 minutes after the first breach was reported and five minutes after a second breach.
Investigators also have body-worn camera video from a Metropolitan Police Department officer where they say Kiera Pracht is near the Old Senate Chamber “observed shouting at a line of MPD officers, yelling. ‘This is our house!’ D. PRACHT is seen directly behind her.”
The couple appeared before a federal court and have since been released on their own recognizance pending trial on those charges.
They have a virtual preliminary hearing set for Nov. 14 before a federal court in Washington, D.C.
According to Arizona’s Family archives, at least 20 people with Arizona connections have been arrested, charged, or faced trial for actions related to Jan. 6, 2021.
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Publish date : 2024-09-19 14:44:00
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