Arizona couple arrested in connection with Jan. 6 breach of US Capitol
A couple from Surprise were arrested in August in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
David and Kiera Pracht were charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building, intending to impede or disrupt government business, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading in a Capitol building.
The Prachts were two of hundreds who stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, interrupting the counting of the electoral votes submitted by the states after the 2020 election. The votes certified Joe Biden as president.
The couple moved to Arizona from Illinois in 2020, according to the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Phoenix Division identified the couple after obtaining phone records from AT&T, with a search warrant. Retrieved data showed Kiera Pracht's phone in the restricted area on Jan. 6. It matched tips from the public and images from surveillance videos and body worn camera footage, federal prosecutors allege in court.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed the charges Aug. 5, and the Prachts were arrested Aug. 6.
Tips from the public pointed to various Facebook posts from Kiera Pracht.
One showed she and David on a plane, posted Jan. 5. The caption read, "DC... here we come!! #StopTheSteal #Trump2020 #4moreyears." Another showed David Pracht in front of the Washington Monument with a black sweatshirt that said, "Indict the big guy."
Another said, "Was on the steps at the capital building when it was stormed (ended up inside because the flow was going that way)," her post said. It included an upset emoji, before saying " 'WE THE PEOPLE' are demanding justice!' "
The FBI also reviewed surveillance footage showing the Prachts "barelling through a bottleneck of rioters and past U.S. Capitol police officers," according to the complaint filed in federal court. The Prachts stayed in the Capitol Rotunda for roughly three minutes, the complaint says, during which Kiera Pracht appeared to film and David Pracht raised his fists in celebration.
Body-worn camera footage from police officers shows Kiera Pracht "shouting" at officers, "yelling 'This is our house!'"
More than a dozen Arizonans have been charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6 insurrection, including Mark Finchem, a lawmaker at the time, and Anthony Kern, a state lawmaker who lost his reelection bid a few months prior.
Jake Angeli became the face of the riot because of his unique attire — shirtless and showing off elaborate chest tattoos, a painted face and a fur-lined helmet topped with horns.
Angeli, the self-proclaimed QAnon Shaman, was arrested after showing up for an interview with FBI agents days after the January 2021 riot. He was ordered jailed until trial. He pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a felony count of obstructing an official proceeding. He was released from federal custody in May.
In July, a Glendale man was also arrested in connection to Jan. 6. Robert Tasker, 43, was accused of assaulting officers and helping rioters who broke into the Capitol.
Tasker reportedly climbed the northwest stairs of the building, joined other rioters surrounded by U.S. Capitol police, lunging at officers multiple times before he was pepper sprayed. He eventually descended into the Capitol building with a mob of people.
