BLANCHESTER — A second Clinton County man has been arrested for his involvement in the Capitol riots in January.
Luke Faulkner of Blanchester was arrested along with Jared Kastner of Beavercreek earlier this month, according to federal court documents. These state that Faulkner faces charges of allegedly entering and remaining in restricted building/grounds, disorderly/disruptive conduct in restricted building/grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building, and parading/demonstrating/picketing in a Capitol Building.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice “statement of facts”, Faulkner was discovered in connection with Kastner after authorities obtained information related to Kastner’s email and phone number. Kastner’s email “returned a photograph of a man (Faulkner) wearing jeans and a black jacket” on Jan. 6. Court documents indicate Faulkner was “a top-ten contact of Kastner”.
The court documents state:
“According to records obtained through a search warrant served on Verizon, during the riot, the cellphone … and subscribed to Faulkner was identified as having utilized a cell site consistent with providing service to a geographic area that included the interior of the United States Capitol building. The FBI has reviewed the available information to determine whether there was any evidence that devices associated with this address could have lawfully been inside the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021. The information for this address did not match any information for persons lawfully within the Capitol. Thus, your affiant believes that the individual possessing this device was not authorized to be within the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021.”
The statement of facts further indicates Faulkner and Kastner were seen on surveillance footage entering the U.S. Capitol Building through Senate Wing Door at 2:17 p.m. The two, along with a third unidentified associate, were seen outside the Capitol Building as well.
Faulkner is the second Clinton County resident to be charged in relation to the Capitol riots. Justin Stoll of Wilmington pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio to “transmission in interstate commerce of a threat to injure” to an individual who believed he should be prosecuted for his role in the Capitol riot in Washington, D.C.
