Mark A. Aungst pleaded guilty June 27 in District of Columbia federal court to a charge of demonstrating or parading in a restricted building. His sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 27 before Judge Reggie B. Walton. He could have been sentenced up to six months in prison and fined $5,000. The plea agreements call for each to pay $500 in restitution as their share of the damage to the Capitol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Lee M. Furst said the evidence at trial would show Aungst and co-defendant Tammy Bronsburg entered the Capitol through the Senate fire door by the parliamentarian’s office approximately 2:45 p.m. and left 30 seconds later.
They re-entered approximately 3:05 p.m. through the Senate wing door. While inside they took photos and videos on their cell phones as they walked through the Capitol and into Senate Room 145.
Aungst and Bronsburg were among those who traveled by bus to Washington for then President Trump’s “stop the steal” rally. They then joined others and marched to the Capitol.
Neither defendant fought with police, or damaged the Capitol.
Aungst, was free on his personal recognizance.
840 have been arrested as of early June on charges from the riot. Slightly more than 300 of them have pleaded guilty and approximately 80 have received jail time.
