Updated Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
A third West Virginian has been charged and arrested for taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Former Parkersburg City Councilman Eric Barber appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon in the Southern District of West Virginia for an initial hearing in the case and was released on bond.
According to court documents from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Barber was charged Wednesday with entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct and theft.
A federal complaint recounts Barber’s activities on Jan. 6, including making his way into the U.S. Capitol as Congress was certifying each state’s election results. The complaint also states that Barber stopped at a C-SPAN media station and stole a portable powerstation worth $52.
In an article published by the Parkersburg News & Sentinel on January 7, Barber recounted his experiences in Washington, D.C. but said he did not enter the capitol building.
Federal investigators cited that article in their complaint against Barber.
Investigators also said they received tips from seven individuals on Jan. 8 that identified Barber and linked him to a Facebook account that had live-streamed the events at the capitol. Photos included in the complaint show Barber donning a green military-style helmet.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Dwayne Tinsley presided over Barber’s initial hearing on Wednesday. Barber was represented by a court-appointed public defender.
“If you were to be convicted of any of these charges you would be exposed to years in prison,” Tinsley told Barber on Wednesday.
Barber then acknowledged that he understood.
Following Wednesday’s hearing, Barber was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond with conditions and is scheduled for another hearing in the District of Columbia on March 10 at 1 p.m.
Aside from Barber, 35-year-old Derrick Evans of Prichard and 23-year-old Gracyn Courtright of Hurricane have both been charged and await trial in their respective cases related to the events of Jan. 6.
According to records analyzed by NPR, more than 260 individuals have so far been charged for their involvement in the attack.