Buford man accused of taking part in Capitol riot is coming home

ATLANTA — A Buford man accused in taking part of the pro-Trump riot at the U.S. Capitol has been granted bond.

Channel 2′s Gwinnett County bureau chief Tony Thomas was at the federal court hearing for Verdan Andrew Nalley on Friday. He was being brought up on several charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Nalley admitted to entering the Capitol after speaking with the FBI, combined with online evidence. He entered the Capitol in the company of his friend and South Georgia attorney William Calhoun. Calhoun is currently in jail without bond for his part in the insurrection.

In court Friday, prosecutors wanted Nalley to be confined to the couple’s home. They cited Nalley’s “disdain for government authority” as the reason for the request. The judge allowed him to leave for work and some appointments.

Thomas caught up with Bobbie Peppers, Nalley’s girlfriend, outside of federal court in Atlanta.

“I’m so excited he’s coming home,” Peppers said.

She does not believe Nalley had ill intentions when he visited the Capitol in January.

“He went to see his president, his commander-in-chief,” Peppers aid.

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Nalley and Calhoun play in a southern rock band together, according to Peppers. The feds say the pair drove to Washington together and even posted pictures inside of the Capitol during the riot.

“I think I might be to blame for this. He’d never voted. He’d never voted and I encouraged him to register … and when he did, he went wholeheartedly and that was his focus. I should have picked something else, maybe Pokemon,” Peppers said.

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