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Georgia Man Arrested for Jan 6 Capitol Breach
WASHINGTON — A Georgia man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
William Frederick Beals, II, 52, of Ringgold, Georgia, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with knowingly making false statements within the jurisdiction of the branches of government, a felony offense. In addition to the felony, Beals is also charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; and theft of government property.
Beals was arrested on August 24, 2023, in Adairsville, Georgia, and made his initial appearance in the Eastern District of Tennessee.
According to court documents, authorities investigating the events that transpired on Jan. 6, 2021, learned that Beals had traveled from his then-home in Tennessee to attend a rally and protest the certification of the Electoral College for the 2020 Presidential elections. On January 6, Beals made his way to the Lower West Plaza of the U.S. Capitol building and traveled to the West Plaza Barricade area, where he confronted members of law enforcement, including members of the United States Capitol Police (USCP).
At approximately 1:30 p.m., the crowd began to physically overtake the police line positioned outside the scaffolding and on the Northwest steps, giving the rioters access to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace. Beals then climbed the scaffolding and made his way closer to the entrance of the Capitol. At about 2:13 p.m., the first rioters entered the building. Only a few minutes later, Beals is seen on CCTV making entry via the Senate Parliamentarian Doors.
Law enforcement authorities later secured the Senate Wing doors; however, at approximately 2:45 p.m., a second rush of rioters breached the Capitol in the same area. Beals donned a gas mask and re-entered the Capitol a second time via the Senate Wing door. During his second entrance into the Capitol, Beals was inside for approximately five minutes before exiting again.
Beals was arrested and charged with knowingly making false statements within the jurisdiction of the branches of government (18 U.S.C. § 1001), knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority (18 U.S.C. § 1752 (a)(1)), disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds (18 U.S.C. § 1752 (a)(2)), disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building (40 U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(C)), and theft of government property (18 U.S.C. § 641).
Beals’s arrest and charges are a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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