November 15 – WASHINGTON, DC – A Seneca man who pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and misdemeanors related to his actions during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was sentenced Friday in federal court in Washington, DC
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said May 28 that Kyler Joseph Bard, 27, Seneca, pleaded guilty to two felonies: resisting or obstructing certain officers and civil disorder. Bard also pleaded guilty to four offences: entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, committing violence in a restricted building or grounds applies, and an act of physical violence against the Capitol or the Capitol. grounds.
U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta sentenced Bard to one year and one day of confinement and two years of supervised release, $2,000 in restitution, 100 hours of community service and a $285 special assessment.
Mehta was scheduled to sentence Bard on Nov. 1, but that sentencing was rescheduled for Friday because Bard’s attorney, Joseph S. Passanise, of Springfield, made an earlier commitment on Nov. 1.
The U.S. attorney’s office in DC said court documents show Bard attended the “Stop the Steal” rally with other individuals near the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, on the morning of January 6, 2021. After the meeting, Bard returned to his home. hotel and later proceeded to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace, where he entered and remained on restricted grounds. Here, Bard took a photo of a rioter standing his ground and posing with a sign that read: “Area closed by order of Capitol Police.”
Court documents show that around 3:28 p.m., Bard was standing on a ledge on the Upper West Terrace, where officers had formed a police line as a barrier between the Capitol and the crowd. About 3:30 p.m., Bard walked over the edge with a megaphone in his hand. Shortly afterwards, another person nearby attacked and pushed into the officers. Seeing this, Bard shouted into the megaphone, “Move! Move! Move! We have to push! We have to push! Let’s go! We have to go! Let’s go!’ Bard then turned directly towards the police line and as he shouted, “Let’s push!” took several steps and pushed a police officer.
Court documents show Bard confronted a police officer for approximately four seconds by physically running into the officer. Bard then lost his balance and fell backwards to the ground. As Bard fell backwards, he shouted at the officers, “You’re all a bunch of pieces….”
The FBI arrested Bard on January 17, 2023 in Missouri.
