Capitol riot arrests: 15 times Jan. 6 defendants from Missouri, Kansas faced justice
In the years since the Capitol riot, The Star has followed the court proceedings of 47 Missouri and Kansas defendants accused of involvement in the attack, tracking their convictions, sentences and the legal arguments surrounding their cases.
Sentencing varied based on factors such as level of participation and cooperation with law enforcement. One man who blamed former President Donald Trump and Sen. Josh Hawley was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for assaulting officers.
A Missouri man who wore a “Right Wing Death Squad” cap was found guilty of multiple felonies and faces a lengthy prison sentence.
And a Kansas City man who spent 18 seconds in the Capitol received probation and home detention.
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists at The Star. All stories below were reported, written and edited by Star journalists.
No. 1: MO ex-Proud Boy who wore ‘Right Wing Death Squad’ cap to Capitol on Jan. 6 found guilty
Prosecutors showed videos of Nicholas Kennedy’s steady march to the Capitol, past two lines of barricades, up the scaffolding put in place to construct the stage for the inauguration and into the building through a fire exit. | Published April 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Desrochers and Judy L. Thomas
No. 2: Former KC-area Proud Boy, decorated Marine vet gets brief prison time in Jan. 6 case
“In a claim that strains credulity, he insists that he ‘only entered the Capitol Building to protect property that [he] believed was going to be destroyed by the crowd,’” the Justice Department said of Christopher Kuehne. | Published February 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 3: KC man who took mom to Capitol on Jan. 6 and confronted police in tunnel gets prison time
After the riot, the FBI received a tip from a relative who gave authorities screenshots taken from Kyle Kumer’s Facebook page that discussed his experience at the Capitol, along with a video of the Lower West Terrace. | Published July 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 4: Kansas City man who spent 18 seconds in Capitol on Jan. 6 gets probation, home detention
“His need to be part of the action, to be one of the many to dare to step foot inside, overcame his better judgment.” | Published January 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 5: Missouri man going to prison for Capitol riot says Donald Trump, Josh Hawley incited him
The Raytown man brought a pitchfork and broke into the Capitol multiple times on Jan. 6, 2021. | Published March 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 6: Former KC-area Proud Boy gets probation in Jan. 6 case. Feds say he aided investigators
The government’s sentencing memorandum filed July 2 described Colon as “a first-degree Proud Boy” who “traveled to the capital region as part of a structured group that was prepared for violence.” | Published July 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas and Daniel Desrochers
No. 7: Missouri man who carried loaded gun onto Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 gets probation
“I am by no means a harmful or threat to the community or society. I truly hope you can see past my events of that day and see that a human being made a very big mistake…” | Published January 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 8: Missouri Marine vet who injured officer in Capitol riot sentenced to 5 years in prison
John George Todd III was found guilty of six charges in connection with the Capitol breach, including two felonies, and sentenced to five years in prison. | Published June 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 9: ‘Deep sense of shame and remorse.’ Former Missouri man sentenced in Capitol riot case
“He was immediately shocked and ashamed of the fact that he was a part of the event on January 6,” Eric Harrower’s attorney wrote in his sentencing document. | Published April 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 10: Judge lets MO man off on felony charge in Jan. 6 bench trial, convicts on lesser counts
Joseph Hicks is one of 37 Capitol riot defendants from Missouri and the 32nd to be convicted. Of those, 26 have been sentenced. | Published June 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas and Daniel Desrochers
No. 11: Kansas Marine vet who breached Capitol on Jan. 6 with flag painted on head pleads guilty
Chad Suenram, of Wichita, is among 10 Kansas residents charged in connection with the Capitol riot and the ninth to plead guilty. | Published April 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 12: ‘Ashamed of myself.’ KS Proud Boy gets prison sentence for threatening police on Jan. 6
“I’m ashamed of much of what I did that day, and I’m ashamed of what my daughters have seen me do,” Olathe Proud Boy William Chrestman told the court at his sentencing. | Published January 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas and Daniel Desrochers
No. 13: ‘Acted myopically and foolishly.’ MO couple sentenced to 14 days in Capitol riot case
“Defendants now recognize that they should have known their participation that day would add to Americans’ collective sense of insecurity, fear, and divisiveness,” their attorney wrote. “Defendants are good people who acted myopically and foolishly.” | Published April 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 14: MO Jan. 6 defendant accused of assaulting police can leave home for work, church: judge
Text messages sent by Jared Luther Owens after the Capitol riot showed “that he was willing to engage in future violence,” the government said. | Published April 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas
No. 15: St. Louis Cardinals superfan ‘Rally Runner’ sentenced to prison in Capitol riot case
Rally Runner is the 29th of the 37 Missouri residents charged in Capitol riot cases to be sentenced. Two other Missouri defendants have been convicted and await sentencing, and the cases of another six are pending. | Published August 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Judy L. Thomas