Mercer County's 'Pink Hat lady' faces sentencing Tuesday for Jan. 6 Capitol breach
Dubbed by the media as the “Pink Hat Lady” and “Bullhorn Lady” a 43-year-old Mercer County mother of eight is scheduled to face a federal judge in Washington D.C. to learn the penalty for her role in the January 6, 2021, incursion at the U.S. Capitol.
Rachel Powell gained the nicknames after investigators identified her as the woman wearing a pink knit cap and using a bullhorn to shout instructions to fellow protestors trying to prevent Congress from declaring Joseph Biden as the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election.
Powell was convicted of nine charges that included civil disorder, obstruction, destruction of U.S. property, entering a restricted building or property with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct.
Powell’s attorney has asked Judge Royce Lamberth for house arrest or probation for his client, while government prosecutors seek a prison sentence of eight years in prison.
According to a sentencing memorandum, before she is sentenced, Powell will apologize to law enforcement and members of Congress and their staff.
Of the nine people from the Valley convicted in connection with the Capitol breach, Powell and two others are still awaiting sentencing.
Michael Lockwood of Southington faces up to eight years in prison when he is sentenced on November 3 after pleading guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers.
Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas is scheduled for sentencing on November 15 after a jury convicted him on charges of civil disorder, four counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer, entering, or remaining in a restricted building and grounds, and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
Two people from New Castle, Phillip Vogel II and Debra Maimone were convicted of aiding and abetting the theft of U.S. property.
Vogel II was sentenced to 30 days in jail followed by one year of supervised release. Maimone was sentenced to two years’ probation. Each was ordered to make $1,806 restitution.
Brian and Julia Sizer of Ellwood City were both placed on probation for a year for entering the Capitol during the disturbance.
Stephen Ayers of Champion, who made national headlines when he testified before the House select committee hearing into the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol, was sentenced Thursday to two years probation after pleading guilty to entering the temporary residence of the president and disorderly conduct in the Capitol.
Ayer’s companion that day at the Capitol, Matthew Perna of Sharpsville, pleaded guilty to charges of witness tampering, disorderly conduct, and two counts of entering a restricted building or grounds. Perna took his own life before he could be sentenced.
Since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 1,100 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol.
