Kentucky Man Arrested on Felony Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — A Kentucky man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 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 presidential election.

            William Stover, 46, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony offense. In addition, Stover is charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings. Stover was arretsed on Monday, July 10, 2023, and made his inital apperance in the Western District of Kentucky. 

            According to court documents, Stover was identified on closed-circuit television (“CCTV”) footage and police body-worn camera footage at the U.S. Capitol building and grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. In this footage, it is alleged that Stover pushed against a police line and aided other rioters in fighting against police officers near an entrance to the Capitol building at the lower west terrace tunnel.

            Court documents say that at approximately 3:16 p.m., Stover arrived at the tunnel entrance and joined with others in a push again the police line. Stover and the other rioters were eventually expelled from the tunnel entrance by police; however, court documents say that Stover and others returned to once again push against police at the tunnel entrance.

            According to court documents, Stover grabbed onto the side of the tunnel entrance in an effort to leverage his weight and to push against police. Stover then grabbed ahold of the side of the tunnel, hoisted himself up, and reached over the heads of the other rioters to grab the helmet of the nearest police officer.

            A short while later, court documents state that Stover received a U.S. Capitol Police riot shield which he then handed to another rioter who climbed up behind him. That rioter took the shield from Stover and used it to attack police. Stover remained at the entrance to the tunnel as the rioters fought police for approximately twenty more minutes. At about 4:10 p.m., he was pushed away from the mouth of the tunnel by the crowd.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Louisville and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.