A man from Eau Claire pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge related to his role in the January 6 violation of the United States Capitol as Congress was due to certify Joe Biden’s election as president.
Kevin D. Loftus, 53, pleaded guilty to marching, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, an offense punishable by six months in prison.
Appearing by video in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, Loftus answered a series of yes or no questions posed by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich before pleading guilty.
Loftus is to be sentenced by Friedrich on January 31.
Loftus
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The plea agreement does not specify a sentence that will be sought for Loftus, but in addition to a possible six months in jail, the parade charge is punishable by a fine of up to $ 5,000. The deal will require Loftus to pay $ 500 in restitution to help pay for the estimated $ 1.5 million in damage caused to the Capitol during the riot.
According to a criminal complaint, Loftus was identified using a photo taken of him on Capitol Hill and others posted on his Facebook account. A witness also identified him.
The complaint indicates that Loftus also posted on his Facebook page a link to a New York Post article about the riot on Capitol Hill, as well as the confession: “I am wanted by the FBI for illegal entry.” He also posted that he was part of a series of FBI photos of wanted people for the Capitol invasion, adding: “lol”.
