An Elizabethtown man, “and the very first defendant to breach the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021,” was found guilty in the District of Columbia on Friday of multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses related to his conduct that day, according to federal prosecutors in the District of Columbia.
“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,” prosecutors said.
A federal jury convicted Michael Sparks, 46, obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, both felonies. In addition, Sparks was convicted of several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly will sentence Sparks on July 9, 2024. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the felonies alone.
According to evidence presented during trial, prosecutors said, “Sparks was the very first rioter to enter the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021. Video surveillance from inside the U.S. Capitol building on January 6 showed Sparks entering through the window and jumping down to the floor at about 2:13 p.m.”
Sparks climbed through a window next to the Senate Wing Door. The windows were broken by rioters with a police shield.
“Once inside the Capitol, Sparks followed a group of men who chased a U.S. Capitol Police Officer up a flight of stairs. Sparks and the others pursued the officer up the stairs while the mob shouted at the officer,” prosecutors stated. “Upstairs, the officer found backup, and several police officers attempted to stop the group of rioters. Officers ordered the group to leave, but Sparks did not retreat. Instead, he walked to the front of the group and confronted the first officer they had chased up the stairs. He yelled, ‘This is our America! This is our America!,’ as he grew increasingly agitated.”
Evidence presented during the trial showed that in the days leading up to the events of January 6, Sparks wrote on the social media site Parler, “We want a civil war to be clear.” On January 3, 2021, Sparks posted to Facebook that, “It’s time to drag them out of Congress. It’s tyranny[.]”
The FBI arrested Sparks on January 19, 2021, in Elizabethtown.
The FBI’s Louisville and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. Sparks was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #46 on the FBI’s seeking information photos.
In the 37 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
