Texas couple found guilty of multiple felonies during January 6 riots at U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON (KFDX/KJTL) — A Texoma couple was found guilty of multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses committed in Washington, D.C., during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

According to a release from the United States Attorney's Office, Mark Middleton, 55, and Jalise Middleton, 54, both of Forestburg, Texas, were convicted on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, by a federal jury of the following crimes:

• 2 counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers (felony)
• Civil disorder (felony)
• Obstruction of an official proceeding (felony)
• Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds (misdemeanor)
• Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds (misdemeanor)
• Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds (misdemeanor)
• Act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building (misdemeanor)

The release said the actions of the Middletons, along with others, disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

The release said U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss will sentence the Middletons on June 12.

Mark and Jalise Middleton were arrested on April 21, 2021, in Forestburg, Texas.

According to the release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the evidence presented in the trial of the Middletons included body-worn camera footage from officers with the Metropolitan Police Department who were called to assist the U.S. Capitol Police officers with protecting the building and grounds from a group of amassed rioters.

The release said the body-worn camera footage showed a male individual, later identified as Mark Middleton, pushing against the barricades and the police line with his body. Officers can be heard in the footage repeatedly ordering Middleton to get back, to which Middleton can be heard responding, "F*** you!" as he continued to push against the barricades.

According to the release, Middleton can be seen continuing to resist MPD officers, grabbing onto an MPD officer's left hand or wrist, and pulling the officer forward toward the crowd.

The release said the footage also showed that at the same time, a female later identified as Jalise Middleton, repeatedly grabbed and struck the same officer over the barricade with her hand. Footage then showed another officer approaching to assist and Jalise Middleton striking that officer as well.

According to the release, video footage showed the couple continued to grapple with and strike at the officers and attempt to pull an officer into the crowd as various flags were jabbed toward the officers' faces.

The release said MPD officers later deployed a chemical spray, forcing the Middletons to retreat from the barricaded line. Both defendants later posted social media messages touting their key roles in helping to breach the barricades by fighting officers, and that they had only stopped due to pepper spray, according to the release.

According to the release, 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.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to the release.