Six more Oath Keepers members and associates were found guilty in the District of Columbia on March 21 for their participation in the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a Department of Justice press release.
“With this verdict, the Justice Department has now secured convictions of 14 Oath Keepers members and affiliates for felonies surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said, according to the release. “I am grateful to the prosecutors, agents, and staff for their tireless work on these cases. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those criminally responsible for the Jan. 6 assault on our democracy.”
The defendants had been charged with interfering with a joint session of the U.S. Congress called to determine and tally the electoral votes for the presidential election. The following people were found guilty on March 21 of conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, a felony: Sandra Parker, 63, of Morrow, Ohio; Bennie Parker, 72, of Morrow, Ohio; Connie Meggs, 60, of Dunnellon, Fla.; Laura Steele, 53, of Thomasville, N.C.; and William Isaacs, 23, of Kissimmee, Fla.
In addition to being found guilty of destroying government property, conspiring to hinder an officer of the United States from performing their duties, and obstructing an official process, Sandra Parker, Connie Meggs, Steele, and Isaacs were also found guilty of several additional felonies, the release reported. All five defendants and co-defendant Michael Greene, 39, of Indianapolis, Ind., were also found guilty of the misdemeanor offense of accessing and remaining on prohibited property. For joining the mob that attempted to push officers away down the hallway from the Rotunda to the Senate Chamber, Parker, Steele, and Isaacs were also found guilty of obstructing officers during a civil disorder, a felony; Isaacs was also found guilty of one additional count of obstructing officers during a civil disorder for his behavior upon entering the building.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves said this was the third trial of individuals associated with the Oath Keepers for their role in delaying the certification of results of the 2020 Presidential election, according to the release.
“Juries have now convicted all defendants tried to date, including convicting 14 of the defendants charged with serious felonies," Graves said in the news release. "The verdicts returned reflect that these juries have carefully reviewed the evidence; considered each defendant’s individual conduct; and reached the outcomes they concluded were required by law. We are incredibly appreciative of all of their hard work,” he said in the release.
