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What has happened to the Kansas residents charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection?

The government's criminal complaint against Ryan Ashlock identifies him as the figure on the right in this photograph.
U.S. Attorney's Office
/
District of Columbia
The government's criminal complaint against Ryan Ashlock identifies him as the figure on the right in this photograph.

Kansans charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol include alleged members of the Proud Boys, a Topeka City Council candidate and others who've since expressed regret for their actions.

The legal cases of hundreds of people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol are winding their way through the courts.

Five people died during or after the insurrection, and approximately 140 members of law enforcement suffered injuries.

To date, more than 1,000 people have been charged with crimes. Based on court records and media accounts, here are all the people from Kansas who are facing charges and, in instances where they've pleaded guilty, the outcomes of their cases.

See the list of Missouri residents who have been charged here.

Ryan Ashlock

Ashlock, of Gardner, was arrested in Lenexa on Feb. 22, 2021.

He was charged with conspiracy; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; and carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.

The Kansas City Star reportedthat he was part of a group of Kansas City-area Proud Boys, including William Chrestman, Christopher Kuehne and Louis Enrique Colon, as well as Arizona siblings Felicia Konold and Cory Konold.

Ashlock was also named as a defendant in a separate civil suit brought by the attorney general of the District of Columbia against the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers and multiple individuals. The suit accuses the defendants of "conspiring to terrorize the District" in connection with the Capitol insurrection.

Ashlock pleaded guilty on June 14, 2022, to a misdemeanor charge of trespassing in a restricted building or grounds and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

On Nov. 10, 2022, a judge sentenced Ashlock to 70 days in prison and 12 months of supervised release. In addition, Ashlock must pay $500 in restitution.

William Chrestman

William Chrestman, as identified in the United States of America's criminal complaint.
United States District Court
/
District of Columbia
William Chrestman, as identified in the United States of America's criminal complaint.

Chrestman, of Olathe, was arrested in Olathe on Feb. 11, 2021.

He was charged with conspiracy; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and aiding and abetting; threatening a federal officer; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; and carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.

He allegedly acted in concert with Christopher Kuehne, Louis Enrique Colon, Felicia Konold and Cory Konold. The U.S. Army veteran has remained in jail since his arrest, according to court documents.

On Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, he pleaded guilty to two felonies: obstruction of an official proceeding and threatening a federal officer. On Jan. 12, 2024, he was sentenced to four years in prison and 36 months of supervised release, and $2,000 in restitution for damage caused to the U.S. Capitol.

Michael Eckerman

Eckerman, of Wichita, was arrested in Wichita on Sept. 20, 2021.

An affidavit filed by an FBI special agent alleged he was nearby when a Capitol police officer shot and killed Ashli Babbit as she attempted to climb through a broken window to enter the House of Representatives.

He was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; disorderly conduct in the Capitol building; entering and remaining in a restricted building; entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.

Eckerman told Wichita television station KAKE in September that he wasn't armed and didn’t assault or even touch an officer.

Eckerman pleaded guilty to felony assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer on Nov. 8, 2022. On March 8, 2023, Eckerman was sentenced to 20 months in prison, 24 months of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution.

Kasey Von Owen Hopkins

Hopkins, of Kansas City, Kansas, was arrested on Aug. 5, 2022, and charged with four counts of entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct on restricted grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building.

On Dec. 5, 2022, he pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building. He faced a maximum sentence of six months incarceration, five years' probation and a fine of $5,000. As part of his plea agreement, Hopkins agreed to pay $500 in restitution for damage to the Capitol. On April 10, 2023, he was sentenced to four months' incarceration and two years' probation.

Michael Eckerman, left, and Christopher Kuehne, right as identified in the United States of America's criminal complaints against them.
U.S. Attorney's Office
/
District of Columbia
Michael Eckerman, left, and Christopher Kuehne, right, as identified in FBI documents.

Christopher Kuehne

Kuehne, of Olathe, was arrested in Missouri on Feb. 11, 2021.

Indicted along with Ashlock, Chrestman, Colon, Felicia Konold and Cory Konold, he was charged with conspiracy; civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Kuehne, a Marine veteran and member of the alt-right Proud Boys group, pleaded guilty Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, to one felony count for obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder. He faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a possible $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2024. Additionally, like many other insurrectionists, he will be required to pay restitution for damage rioters caused to the U.S. Capitol grounds.

Jennifer Ruth Parks

Parks, of Leavenworth, surrendered in Kansas City, Kan., on April 23, 2021.

She was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

On Sept. 28, Parks pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. On Dec. 8, she was sentenced to 24 months' probation and ordered to pay restitution of $500.

She was sentenced on Dec. 8, 2021, to 24 months of probation and 60 hours of community service. She was also ordered to make restitution of $500.

Parks has since expressed regret about participating in the breach of the Capitol. A sentencing memorandum submitted in her case last month included a letter from her:

“If I could have that day back, I would not have gone to Washington, D.C., and I certainly would not have gone into the Capitol building. I sincerely apologize for my actions. I believe I am wiser and more discerning now than I was then and will spend years trying to make it up to the people I’ve disappointed.”

Jennifer Parks at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as identified by an FBI agent.
U.S. Attorney's Office
/
District of Columbia
Jennifer Parks at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as identified by an FBI agent.

William Alexander Pope

Pope, of Topeka, was arrested in Topeka on Feb. 12, 2021.

He was charged with civil disorder; obstructing an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; impeding passage through the Capitol; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Pope unsuccessfully sought a seat on the Topeka City Council in 2019, according to the Kansas Reflector.

Pope, doctoral student and graduate teaching assistant at Kansas State University, told the Topeka Capital-Journal last January that he was “not violent or destructive” and had reported himself to the FBI.

On Nov. 10, 2021, he was charged in a superseding indictment that added several more counts to the original indictment. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to the FBI, William Pope submitted this image of himself on Jan. 6, 2021, along with a message to a tip line saying he wanted to turn himself in.
United States Attorney's Office
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District of Columbia
According to the FBI, William Pope submitted this image of himself on Jan. 6, 2021, along with a message to a tip line saying he wanted to turn himself in.

Mark Roger Rebegila

Rebegila, of St. Marys, was arrested in Topeka on March 15, 2021.

He was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building and engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct. During the insurrection, he entered Capitol grounds with a flag zip-tied to a piece of plastic pipe, trespassed in offices and took selfies.

On Dec. 1, 2021, he pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His sentencing is set for March 10, 2022.

On April 20, 2022, he was sentenced to 24 months of probation, including 30 days of home detention, and 60 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and $500 in restitution.

According to the FBI, Mark Roger Rebegila, right, provided this photograph of himself to an FBI agent.
U.S. Attorney's Office
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District of Columbia
According to the FBI, Mark Roger Rebegila, right, provided this photograph of himself to an FBI agent.

Esther Schwemmer

Schwemmer, of Leavenworth, was arrested in Kansas City, Kansas, on April 23, 2021.

She was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds.

On Sept. 28, 2021, Schwemmer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. On Jan. 10, 2022, she was sentenced to two years' probation and 60 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay $500 in restitution.

Schwemmer, a hairdresser who emigrated to the United States from Germany when she was 24, told the court that she was "deeply ashamed of her actions" and had made "a stupid choice." She said she accepted full responsibility for her actions.

Esther Schwemmer, far left, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as identified by an FBI agent.
U.S. Attorney's Office
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District of Columbia
Esther Schwemmer, far left, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as identified by an FBI agent.

The government’s sentencing memorandum in Schwemmer’s case said that early in the investigation, on Jan. 17, 2021, she agreed to be interviewed by law enforcement. It said she “accepted responsibility for her actions and admitted that she had entered the Capitol.” It also noted that, through her attorney, she “expressed a desire to plead guilty, acknowledge her conduct, and promptly resolve her case.”

Chad Suenram

Suenram, of Wichita, was arrested Monday, Aug. 17, 2023, south of Wichita. Federal investigators allege Suenram illegally entered the U.S. Capitol Building during the insurrection while wearing an American flag mask. According to court records, investigators identified Suenram by tracking his mobile device’s movements on the day of the riot and confirmed his identity through facial recognition software. Suenram pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial has been set for June 17, 2024.

Were you at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and open to talking with KCUR about it? Contact us at lisa@kcur.org.

Updated: January 10, 2022 at 12:51 PM CST
This story was originally published on Jan. 6, 2022 and has been updated.
Dan Margolies has been a reporter for the Kansas City Business Journal, The Kansas City Star, and KCUR Public Radio. He retired as a reporter in December 2022 after a 37-year journalism career.
Kavahn Mansouri is the Midwest Newsroom's investigative reporter. You can reach him at kmansouri@umkc.edu.