A Champion man was indicted on four federal charges linked to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Stephen M. Ayres, 38, of Carolewood Circle NW, is scheduled for a video arraignment at 1 p.m. today before Judge John D. Bates in U.S. Court, District of Columbia.

Also to be arraigned at that time is Matthew Perna of Sharpsville, Pa.

According to the indictment, Ayres and Perna are each charged with obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; and disorderly conduct in the Capitol building.

Thousands had descended on the Capitol on Jan. 6 as Congress was counting the electoral votes, which elected President Joe Biden to the presidency to succeed Donald Trump.

THE AFFIDAVIT

According to the affidavit prepared by Austin Price, special agent with the FBI, evidence was provided in support of the charges against Ayres.

The affidavit states that multiple tips showed Ayres was “one of the many who had unlawfully entered the Capitol on that day, and he had posted a video talking about it on social media later that day.”

On Jan. 10, the FBI reviewed the almost 8-minute-long video that depicted three individuals, including Ayres, describing their experiences inside the Capitol. The same video was posted to YouTube on Jan. 7 by an account “Johnny Anonymous” and was labeled: “It was all ANTIFA breaking into the Capitol 1-6-2021.”

The other man in the video, identified as Perna, stated it was being made “back at the hotel,” the affidavit states, where they were “safe,” but they had been “all at the Capitol building” and they wanted to “share what really happened today.”

Perna said he and Ayers “walked right into the Capitol building” after Antifa “breached the door” so it was left open. The man also stated the police “escorted” them from one end of the building to the other, according to the video.

According to the affidavit, agents met with Perna on Jan. 14 at his Sharpsville home. At the time, Perna confirmed he had attended the Trump rally and marched with others to the Capitol after the rally.

Perna told agents he and a friend went to the top of the steps of the Capitol building’s west side and were surprised that the door was open. Two U.S. Capitol police officers were inside the door. Perna claimed he was pushed into the building by a crowd that had gathered behind him. He said it was not his intention to enter the Capitol, claiming he was inside for only five to 10 minutes. In a later interview, Perna admitted to agents at one point he became frustrated, and, using a metal pole, tapped on a window of the Capitol building.