Unexpected couple charged in connection with Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC (AZFamily) — A Surprise couple has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Kiera and David Pracht were arrested in August and charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building without consent, intent to disrupt government business, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and demonstrating in a Capitol building.

It is alleged that the Prachts were among hundreds of people who gathered at the United States Capitol and broke into the Capitol building in an attempt to disrupt the process of certifying electors in the 2020 presidential election.

According to the George Washington University Program on Extremism, more than 1,100 lawsuits have been filed in connection with the events of January 6.

In federal court documents, a special agent with the FBI’s Phoenix field office details the allegations against the couple and how investigators traced their movements before, during and after January 6, 2021.

Investigators said they had a warrant to search cellphones in and around the U.S. Capitol from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on January 6, and one of the numbers, which was in that area and inside the U.S. Capitol building, was traced to Kiara Pracht.

“K. Pracht’s device was identified in the restricted area for approximately 44 minutes, from 2:18 p.m. to 3:03 p.m.,” the FBI agent wrote.

Agents noted that 11 days later, on January 11, 2021, the FBI received a tip containing a screenshot of a Facebook post, allegedly by Kiera Pracht, that stated, “I was on the steps of the Capitol building when the storming occurred (I ended up inside because the flow was going that way) ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ demand justice! Not sure how the News is reporting this, but there was no violence while we were there — there was chaos!”

Later that month, the FBI received another tip about Kiera Pracht, saying, “Individual was at the January 6th rally. Facebook post has been deleted. She was stated to be on the steps and entered the Capitol with the crowd. She claims to have photos.”

FBI agents also found the Prachts in a video released to the public on the steps of the East Rotunda.

In addition to obtaining data from devices around and inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, federal investigators executed search warrants for the Prachts’ Facebook and Google accounts, backpacks and their Surprise home, which in a photo released by investigators shows bunting outside and an American flag that appears to be upside down.

In court documents, an FBI agent in Phoenix said that on Jan. 6, 2021, he reviewed surveillance and body-worn camera footage at the U.S. Capitol and identified Kiera and David Pracht “pushing their way through a bottleneck of rioters and former U.S. Capitol Police officers.”

The agent noted that they were seen entering the East Rotunda door at 2:43 p.m., 20 minutes after the first burglary was reported and five minutes after the second burglary was reported.

Investigators also have body-worn camera footage from a Metropolitan Police Department officer that they say shows Kiera Pracht near the Old Senate Chamber “seen yelling at a line of MPD officers. ‘This is our house!’ D. PRACHT can be seen directly behind her.”

The pair appeared in federal court and were later released on their own recognizance pending trial on those charges.

A virtual preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 14 in federal court in Washington.

According to Arizona’s Family Archives, at least 20 people with ties to Arizona have been arrested, charged, or faced criminal charges for activities related to the events of January 6, 2021.

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