ATLANTA — Two men from Georgia are facing multiple charges relating to the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Authorities said they used the suspects’ own social media accounts as evidence.
William McCall Calhoun, 57, of Americus, had his initial appearance in Macon federal court on Jan. 15. Calhoun is charged with entering a restricted building or grounds, violent entry or disorderly conduct, and tampering with a witness, victim or informant.
According to the affidavit, Calhoun traveled to Washington, D.C. and “knowingly and willfully joined and encouraged a crowd of individuals who forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol and impeded, disrupted, and disturbed the orderly conduct of business by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.”
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Authorities said Calhoun posted on Facebook a video of himself inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 saying, “After we had forced our way in but before the cops were rout…”
He also allegedly posted a photo from inside the Capitol Rotunda saying, “Today the American People proved that we have the power. We physically took control of the Capitol Building in a hand to hand hostile takeover. We occupied the Capitol and shut down the Government – we shut down their stolen election shenanigans.”
Calhoun remains in custody, and currently is scheduled to have his detention and preliminary hearing this week in Macon.
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Michael Shane Daughtry, 58, of Pelham, also had his preliminary and detention hearing in Macon federal court on Friday.
Daughtry is charged federally with a misdemeanor, entering a restricted building or grounds.
Authorities said a Pelham police officer first contacted the FBI with screenshots from Daughtry’s Facebook account on Jan. 6 saying, “We just tore down the fence and stormed the Capital.”
In another post that day, which shows a photo of the Capitol building, he states, “look[s] like security so just push our way to the very very front.”
Daughtry was released on bond with conditions, including internet restrictions and his firearms are being held by the U.S. Marshals.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Peter Leary, has the following statement: “We are working closely with our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI to consider all possible charges against those individuals from the Middle District of Georgia involved in the violence at the U.S. Capitol.”
Cox Media Group
