Father and son Tennessee residents Mark and Jerry McKane Waynick have been arrested by federal authorities for assaulting police officers during the Capitol riot last year, joining the significant list of those to be picked up in tandem with family members for criminal acts committed there for Trump. Notably, the younger Waynick was identified by the Justice Department as just 19 years old. According to a press release from the Justice Department, both Waynicks “were wearing tactical helmets, tactical vests, and tactical gloves with knuckle protectors” and “joined other rioters in an effort to break the law enforcement perimeter on the West Front of the Capitol.” The younger Waynick tried to swipe a baton from an officer and threw a large cone at police officers, in addition to other physical struggles.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge rejects Trump attempt to toss conspiracy lawsuits, finds 'plausible' case former president incited Capitol riot.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 18, 2022
Eventually, both Waynicks made it inside the Capitol building, where they wandered around for up to about half an hour. Their charges include obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. They’re among more than 235 of the Capitol rioters to have been charged with assaulting or impeding officers in some form — an offense that can carry potentially long prison sentences, if defendants are found guilty. Per federal legal provisions, where an original incident of assault on law enforcement incorporates “physical contact with the victim of that assault or the intent to commit another felony,” the sentence if found guilty is up to 8 years, and if a “deadly or dangerous weapon” is used or “bodily injury” is inflicted, the maximum sentence reaches 20 years. The Waynicks would appear to fall under at least the category providing for sentences of up to 8 years; the Justice Department says they “rushed toward a line of police officers and pushed and reached toward the officers.”
DOJ announces arrest of father and son from Tennessee accused of assaulting officers outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.
Charging docs here for Mark and Jerry Waynick:https://t.co/4WxBlfUHsu pic.twitter.com/BoLIE6wMyl
— Alex Mallin (@alex_mallin) February 18, 2022
The tactical gear that the Waynicks wore obviously suggests a level of preparation for violence, something that’s also been alleged in a somewhat different fashion in the cases of those tied to the violent, far-right group known as the Oath Keepers who have been charged with seditious conspiracy in relation to the Capitol attack. Authorities consulted (among an array of other items) an Instagram account belonging to Mark’s wife/ Jerry’s mother in investigating the Waynicks. Jerry’s phone number was obtained from a college that he’s attended, and that number was tied to an account in the name of Beth Waynick. An Instagram account in her name was uncovered identifying its owner as “McKane’s mom.” That would appear to provide a pair of confirmations of Jerry’s family alongside a determination that a photographed individual was him in the first place. Jerry’s phone number — which was tied to Beth’s account — was recorded around the Capitol on January 6.
ARRESTED!! Father & son from Tennessee are arrested for assault/resisting police. Feds arrest 51 y/o Mark Waynick & 19 y/o Jerry Waynick #RedPylonThrower for joining mob breaching on Capitol west front pic.twitter.com/X0gIDvuGXS
— #SeditionHunters (@SeditionHunters) February 18, 2022
