WASHINGTON — A Missouri man pleaded guilty to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election, according to the United State's Attorney.
On Friday, Jerod Thomas Bargar, 37, of Centralia, Missouri, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia, to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, a felony. U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton scheduled a sentencing hearing for Nov. 3, 2023.
According to court documents, Bargar illegally brought a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol across state lines and into the District of Columbia. Bargar took the firearm to a rally near the Ellipse and then onto restricted grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Bargar was not licensed to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia. Law enforcement officers recovered the weapon at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, on the west side of the Capitol Building. The firearm was on the ground, in a distinctive holster that displayed an image of the American flag and the words: “We The People” written on it. The firearm contained one 9-millimeter cartridge in the chamber and approximately 15 additional cartridges in the magazine. Bargar was later linked to the gun in a law enforcement investigation.
The charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine an appropriate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.