Insurrection Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. National Guard Member Latest Arrest In January 6 Insurrection Investigation

Last week, federal officers arrested West Virginia National Guard aerospace medical technician, Sgt. Jamie Lynn Ferguson. The 45-year-old Virginia resident faces four federal charges.

Last week, federal officers arrested West Virginia National Guard aerospace medical technician, Sgt. Jamie Lynn Ferguson. The 45-year-old Virginia resident faces four federal charges: entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading; demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. She said she was wearing a sweatshirt with “Trump Girl” on it when illegally inside the U.S. Capitol.

Four West Virginians have already pleaded guilty to crimes involved in the January 6th insurrection.

Former Wayne County delegate Derrick Evans resigned his elected office after being arrested. His charges include: one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds. His sentencing is set for June. He faces up to a five year prison term and fines of up to $250,000.

Former Parkersburg councilman Eric Barber was charged with: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building. Barbour admitted he wore a Kevlar helmet into the Capitol and stole a charger from a C-SPAN station. He is awaiting a June sentencing.

Jeffery Finley of Martinsburg is president of the Proud Boys West Virginia chapter. His charges include: knowingly entering and remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted buildings or grounds. His sentencing is set for July.

Surveillance video from U.S. Capitol Police shows West Virginia resident Gracyn Courtright carrying a “Members Only” sign inside the Capitol on Jan. 6.

College student Gracyn Courtright of Hurricane has served her 30 days for entering a restricted building. She had to perform 60 days of community service and pay $500 in restitution.

Additionally, Morgantown’s George Tanios was accused of assaulting three Capitol police officers with pepper spray. His charges include: assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon; conspiracy to injure an officer; civil disorder and obstructing or impeding any official proceeding; physical violence on restricted grounds while carrying a dangerous weapon and resulting in significant bodily injury; violent entry and disorderly conduct in an act of physical violence on Capitol Grounds. His plea negotiation continues.

Police say about 800 protesters stormed the U.S Capitol on that day.

'Yes, I'm A Trump Girl': W.Va. Guard Member Charged In Riot

A part-time member of the West Virginia National Guard who authorities say was wearing a sweatshirt that read “Yes, I'm a Trump girl” inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda has been charged with participating in the January 2021 riot.

A part-time member of the West Virginia National Guard who authorities say was wearing a sweatshirt that read “Yes, I’m a Trump girl” inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda has been charged with participating in the January 2021 riot.

Jamie Lynn Ferguson was arrested last week in Lynchburg, Virginia, and is scheduled for an initial appearance Tuesday before a U.S. magistrate judge in Washington, D.C., according to a criminal complaint.

Ferguson was charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, the complaint said.

Ferguson is a technical sergeant and a part-time, drill status guardsman assigned to the West Virginia Air National Guard, Guard spokeswoman Maj. Holli Nelson said in a statement.

“As a matter of policy, the 130th Airlift Wing and the West Virginia National Guard do not comment on pending criminal charges,” the statement said.

A federal public defender listed for Ferguson did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment on her behalf Monday.

On Jan. 14, 2021, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations submitted an investigative report to the FBI about Ferguson’s suspected involvement at the Capitol. The report provided her photograph and biographical information along with social media posts and screenshots of a video allegedly showing her inside the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 6.

Ferguson was on leave from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7. Her destination was listed as Washington, D.C., according to the OSI report.

On Jan. 3, 2021, the woman’s Facebook account had shared an article with a picture of a crowd in front of the Capitol with a storm cloud and Mount Rushmore above it. A caption in the woman’s post read, “I pray this is exactly what D.C. will look like on Jan. 6th. #HoldTheLine.” A comment on the post asked whether the woman was going to the Capitol and she replied, “I am,” according to a statement of facts filed by an FBI special agent.

Video footage obtained by Capitol police shows a woman with long dark hair wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the phrase “Yes, I’m a Trump Girl” in white lettering and carrying a backpack entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the statement.

On Jan. 14, 2021, Ferguson was interviewed at her home by FBI agents and provided cellphone photos and videos from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7, 2021. One of the photos shows her physical appearance and clothing appearing to match the woman depicted in the video and news photos at the Capitol, the statement said.

Ferguson told the agents she attended a rally in support of then-President Donald Trump with her parents, who left afterward. Ferguson said she proceeded to the Capitol, believing she would be able to see Trump again, the statement said. She said she remained in the Rotunda area for about 40 minutes.

Court documents list Ferguson’s birth year as 1977 but redacted her month and date. Under the conditions of her release, Ferguson was ordered to stay at the Virginia home of her parents.

W.Va. Proud Boys Chapter President Pleads Guilty In Riot Case

The president of a West Virginia chapter of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge that he breached the U.S. Capitol during last year's riot.

The president of a West Virginia chapter of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge that he breached the U.S. Capitol during last year’s riot.

Jeffery Finley of Martinsburg entered the plea Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds on Jan. 6, 2021.

Finley, 29, faces up to a year in prison when he is sentenced July 19.

According to a plea agreement, Finley joined an encrypted messaging group that included only Proud Boys members who were planning to be at the Capitol. A statement of facts from an FBI special agent said Finley wore a blue suit and red hat with a wired earpiece in his right ear when he entered the building.

Once inside, Finley became separated from a group of Proud Boys members and walked down a hallway. He saw members of another chapter inside an office. Finley took a photo of himself near the office door before leaving the building after two hours, according to court records.

In the days afterward, Finley deleted his social media accounts along with photos and videos of himself and other Proud Boys at the Capitol, and directed members of his chapter to do the same, the plea agreement said.