Evergreen Reporter

An Ohio woman was sentenced to prison on September 4, 2024, for felony and misdemeanor charges related to her conduct during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. The actions of Therese Borgerding, along with others, disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to count electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.

Therese Borgerding, 61, from Piqua, Ohio, received a sentence of 50 days in prison and 130 days of home confinement. Additionally, she will serve 36 months of supervised release and must pay $2,000 in restitution as ordered by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly.

A federal jury previously convicted Borgerding of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder—a felony—and several misdemeanors including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in such areas; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Court documents reveal that Borgerding and her husband Walter Messer traveled from Ohio to Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021. They arrived at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol around 7:00 a.m., carrying a large homemade "Q" sign. After staying outside the restricted perimeter for several hours, they moved closer as crowds gathered around barricades at approximately 1:59 p.m.

Borgerding unhooked and pushed apart barricades near the East Front steps leading towards the Capitol. She stood near the Rotunda Doors for several minutes before pushing through into the Rotunda at about 2:41 p.m., where she remained briefly before exiting through one of the smashed windows onto the Northwest Courtyard around 2:49 p.m., continuing to chant and wave her sign.

The FBI arrested Borgerding on August 6, 2021, in Dayton, Ohio.

Walter Messer was previously sentenced on September 11, 2023, to two years probation for his involvement in the events of January 6th.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia alongside the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of Ohio.

The investigation was conducted by FBI offices in Cincinnati and Washington D.C., with support from United States Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department.

Since January 6th incident over three years ago more than 1,488 individuals have been charged across nearly all states for crimes related to breaching U.S. Capitol including nearly half facing felony charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers.

Anyone with relevant information can contact authorities at:

Phone: 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324)

Website: tips.fbi.gov