Sharon man plans guilty plea to Capitol riot involvement

WASHINGTON - A Mercer County man, one of 700 people charged in connection with the January 6 incursion at the U.S. Capitol, intends to plead guilty to charges handed up in an indictment issued against him, according to federal court documents.
The attorney for Matthew Perna of Sharon has filed a notice of intention to plead guilty to witness tampering, two counts of entering a restricted building, and disorderly conduct.
Perna, who is expected to enter the plea change during a December 17 hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, will do so without a prior plea agreement and agree to the allegations made against him. The judge will sentence Perna on the same day he pleads guilty.
Perna and Stephen Ayres of Champion, Ohio were each indicted on the same charges after government investigators say the two attempted to obstruct members of congress as they were certifying President Joe Biden's election and destroyed federal property in the process.
A video posted to Perna's Facebook account showed three people discussing their experiences in Washington DC during the riot. Perna is believed to be one of the men speaking in the video.
Perna told investigators that he did not intend to enter the Capitol but was pushed in by the crowd.
Ayres is believed to be in the same video that was also posted to YouTube, titled "It was all ANTIFA breaking into the Capitol 1-6-2021."
The group claimed ANTIFA was the organization that led the attacks and that police let everyone walk in.
The FBI has said agents have found no evidence that ANTIFA was involved in the Capitol invasion.
Ayres is still waiting for trial, as is Rachel Powell, 40, of Sandy Lake, Mercer County, and 38-year-old Kenneth Thomas of East Liverpool.
Powell, known as the “bullhorn lady” or “pink hat lady” faces multiple counts including obstruction, destruction of US property over $1,000, entering a restricted building or property with a dangerous weapon, entering a restricted building/property, and disorderly conduct
Thomas, 38 of East Liverpool, is accused of punching a Capitol Police Officer and is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, and engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds.
Earlier this month, Julia Jeanette Sizer of Ellwood City, PA pleaded guilty earlier to one count of parading, demonstrating, and picketing, in a Capitol Building. She’ll be sentenced later.