Two days earlier than President Donald Trump would hit the stage on the Ellipse in D.C., again in Kansas, in response to an announcement of his offense, Colon and some different Proud Boys determined they’d come to Washington to indicate assist for the outgoing president’s push to cease the certification of Electoral School votes by Congress.
Colon, members Ryan Ashlock and Christopher Kuehne, and one other unnamed particular person popped right into a automotive that had two of Kuehne’s AR-15s stowed inside. The automotive was by no means introduced into the nation’s capitol, nonetheless.
As soon as they arrived in Virginia on Jan. 5, Colon admitted the group went to a ironmongery store the place he picked up, amongst different issues, an ax deal with. He would later modify it so it may very well be used as a strolling stick and a weapon.
However earlier than they left the store, Colon mentioned Kuehne prompt they seize a little bit of vivid orange tape and use it to establish one another as members of the identical group within the crowd. In response to the preliminary indictment, the Kansas Proud Boys Colon traveled with wore paramilitary gear, camouflaged uniforms, tactical vests and plates, helmets, and eye safety. Additionally they carried radio tools.
On the eve of the assault, Colon mentioned his group met with Proud Boy and co-defendant William Chrestman and so they mentioned transfer “safely” as a gaggle.
In response to Colon, it was then that somebody within the group mentioned they didn’t come to Washington ”to only march round.”
“Do we’ve got patriots prepared to take it by pressure?” the individual requested.
“[Colon] was shocked by this and understood that the person was referring to utilizing pressure towards the federal government,” an announcement of his offense notes.
Within the second, Kuehne, who has pleaded not responsible, mentioned he nonetheless had his weapons in his automotive and one other member of the group piped up, saying the Proud Boys ought to “go in and take over.”
Assembly across the Washington Monument on the morning of Jan. 6, Colon mentioned the group was joined by siblings Felicia Konold and Cory Konold of Arizona.
In Snapchat movies Felicia Konold posted describing the riots, she mentioned she was recruited by the group in Kansas. In a single clip, she exhibits off a Proud Boys problem coin of types that she acquired.
Her acceptance into the group could be notable on condition that the community is a self-professed “chauvinistic” group steeped in misogyny. Typically, nonetheless, in response to the Southern Poverty Regulation Heart, the Proud Boys have created offshoot chapters for wives or girlfriends.
In response to court docket information, with their group amassed, Colon, Kuehne, Ashlock, Chrestman, and the Konold siblings started marching via the road towards the Capitol, chanting. Chrestman shouted to the gang: “Do you wish to take your home again?”
They’d scream again, “Sure!”
Chrestman, prosecutors say, urged them on.
“Take it,” he allegedly informed the mob.
As soon as on the west facet of the Capitol, they scaled a wall, looked for greater floor, after which discovered a approach inside. However the group was first met by police struggling to maintain rioters again. As U.S. Capitol Police fired non-lethal projectiles at them, Chrestman allegedly screamed on the officers: “You shoot and I’ll take your fucking ass out!”
Konold, prosecutors say, was in the meantime urging folks to maintain combating. All within the group however Ashlock made it within the Capitol.
As soon as in, Colon mentioned they noticed retractable doorways being lowered by police to maintain rioters from spreading into one other a part of the constructing.
That was when Colon mentioned he used his palms to cease the door after which put a chair in the way in which to maintain it open. Kuehne, he mentioned, was close by with one other individual utilizing a podium as a doorstop.
Colon admits to being contained in the Capitol for roughly 50 minutes earlier than he and co-defendants fled.
Along with his sentence, Colon can pay $2,000 in direction of restoring the U.S. Capitol. The damages to the advanced alone hover round $1.4 million. If he’s compelled to pay a positive on high of the sentence and restitution, it may whole as much as $250,000.
Louis Colon Plea Agreement by Daily Kos on Scribd
One other plea settlement for a distinct Proud Boy seems to be within the works, too.
On April 22, U.S. District Decide Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued an order noting that prosecutors and attorneys for Nicholas “Nick” Kennedy, also called Squatch, have “progressed in discussions relating to pretrial decision” and requested one other standing listening to be held in June.
The 41-year-old of Sikeston, Missouri, faces six counts together with obstruction of an official continuing, civil dysfunction, coming into and remaining in a restricted space, disorderly conduct in a capitol constructing, and parading in a capitol constructing. Previous to the April 22 order, Kennedy pleaded not responsible.
When information of his indictment first emerged, his image, Money app deal with, and e-mail have been posted within the Proud Boys’ Telegram channel, as famous by Jan. 6 sleuths Sedition Observe final yr.
An legal professional for Kennedy didn’t instantly return a request for remark to Each day Kos on Thursday.
