Desperation and anger over President Donald Trump’s electoral defeat in November 2020 led to the January 6 insurgency on the United States Capitol, as well as more than 535 arrests of suspects across the country, including in California.
At least 24 cases involve California residents, including the federal indictment of two men accused of conspiring to bomb Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento, while others indict individuals accused of crimes in Washington, DC on 6 January.
The alleged bomb plot led to a July 7 indictment filed under seal until this week against Ian Benjamin Rogers of Napa and Jarrod Copeland of Vallejo and Sacramento for conspiracy to destroy a building, possession of destructive devices and machine guns and obstruction of justice.
Federal officials said the two were militia members upset over the loss of Trump who had an arsenal of weapons and were planning to blow up a Democratic building in revenge.
Here are other residents of Northern California linked to cases of post-election violence, particularly on the U.S. Capitol:
Ricky Christopher Willden, 39, Oakhurst has been arrested June 30 on charges of assault, resistance or obstruction of officers and physical violence in the building or grounds of the Capitol.
Willden is a member of the Proud Boys and was seen on video “raising his hand and spraying an unknown substance from a green box at officers standing guard at the east gate,” the Justice Department said.
Evan Neumann, 48, of Mill Valley is accused of assaulting officers, physical violence on the Capitol grounds and other charges.
Neumann is still at large, according to the Justice Department, and was recorded on Capitol Hill wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat, an orange and yellow scarf, a backpack and a gas mask with a red mouthpiece.
“Around 1:45 p.m., Neumann takes off his gas mask and begins speaking directly to the line of officers,” court documents say, telling an officer that he “stands up for people who are going to kill your f —- – – the children … they will kill your f —— children, they will rape them, they will imprison them, and you defend the people who are going to do that to your children.
Court documents say Neumann was recorded on cameras of the police body attacking officers with a metal barricade and that after the FBI released photos and a “be on the lookout” an anonymous informant identified Neumann.
The FBI also compared photos of Neumann to a 2018 report from KGO-TV, ABC’s San Francisco affiliate, which interviewed Neumann after his arrest for entering a disaster area after a wildfire.
“A review of Neumann’s LinkedIn profile shows that he witnessed the Ukrainian Orange Revolution in 2004 and 2005,” court documents say. “In the photos and videos described above, we see Neumann wearing an orange and yellow scarf.
“Open source research reveals that a scarf commemorating the Ukrainian Orange Revolution is similar in appearance to the scarf worn by Neumann on Capitol Hill.”
The FBI Special Watch Group followed Neumann from his Mill Valley home on February 16 to San Francisco International Airport, where officers questioned him but did not arrest him.
He was not charged until March 23 and is still at large.
Mariposa Castro de Gilroy, whose court records indicate that he published many photos and videos of his actions at the Capitol on January 6, is accused of violent entry and disorderly conduct on the grounds of the Capitol.
An informant told the FBI on Jan.8 that Castro posted his actions on Capitol Hill on social media, court records show.
“Castro is well known in the community for his counter-protest activities,” court records indicate. “(The tipster) is part of a social media group that has occasionally discussed Castro’s conduct.
“During these discussions, (the tipster) saw images and videos featuring Castro that Castro uploaded to social media platforms.”
Castro is seen in some social media posts wearing a “MAGA” stocking cap, court records show.
“Castro also uploaded several videos to the ‘Mariposa Castro’ Facebook account on January 6, 2021,” court records indicate. “In one video, Castro climbed through a window on the Capitol using the staging / platform that was built for the grand opening.”
FBI agents visited Castro at his home in Gilroy on January 15, according to court records, but were unlucky.
“FBI agents were able to see a woman who matched Castro’s description inside the residence, but the person did not come to the door,” court records indicate. “A voicemail message left on Castro’s cell phone went unanswered.”
She was arrested on January 21, according to the Justice Department.
Four residents of the Sacramento area were charged in connection with events during the insurgency.
Jorge Riley, a GOP activist from Sacramento, Tommy Frederick Allan from Rocklin and Sean McHugh from Auburn have cases pending.
McHugh is the only one remaining in detention. He was ordered to be sent to Washington and was removed from the Sacramento County Main Jail on Wednesday.
Valerie Ehrke, a home designer from Arbuckle, pleaded guilty in June to a single misdemeanor count.
