Crime And Law

Federal charges filed against two area men for January 6 U.S. Capitol storming

Jarod Kastner / Luke Faulkner Court documents included this picture of Jarod Kastner, of Beavercreek (red arrow) and Luke Faulkner (blue) of Clinton County. Federal investigators have charged both men on charges related to the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

WASHINGTON — Federal charges have been filed against two additional local men, including a Wright Patterson Airforce Base employee, on counts related to the riot and storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

>>PHOTOS: Federal court docs show images of area men inside U.S. Capitol January 6

Charges were filed earlier this month again Jared Kastner, of Beavercreek, and Luke Faulkner, of Clinton County, on multiple counts including entering and remaining in restricted grounds, intending to impede or disrupt the conduct of Government, and other charges, court records obtained by News Center 7 show.

A spokesperson for the air force base confirmed Kastner is an employee of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC).

Federal charges were approved Dec. 7 which later resulted in Kastner’s arrest at his Beavercreek home Dec. 8, according to court records.

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Both men made appearances in federal court Dec. 14 and were released on their own recognizance.

Federal investigators said cell phone data was used to track Kastner’s movements before and after the storming of the Capitol which placed him inside the Capitol, court records show. Additionally, federal investigators were able to use Kastner’s phone data to show he traveled from his home in Beavercreek, to a house in Clinton County, later identified as Faulkner’s, and eventually to Washington D.C. and back.

“Records from Google listed Jared Kastner as the subscriber of the account and showed that a device associated with his email and Google accounts identified above was within the Capitol building from approximately 2:14 p.m. to 2:52 p.m.,” federal investigators detailed in the court documents.

“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.”

Further investigation and search warrants on Kastner’s devices later connected Faulkner’s whereabouts during the Capitol storming, federal investigators allege. Additionally, photos of Kastner and Faulkner taken around Jan. 6 were later matched with surveillance photos the FBI had as evidence with others who entered the Capitol.

One photo captured by surveillance cameras captured Kastner and Faulkner entering through the Senate Wing door and later moving through the Crypt of the U.S. Capitol, federal investigators allege. Additionally, the feds said the photos showed Faulkner appeared to have his hand on Kastner’s shoulder and Kastner had his hand on the shoulder of an unidentified individual wearing a white cowboy hat.

Neither man is listed in an inmate in an area jail.

We’re working to learn more and will update this story as new details become available.

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