A Mississippi father and son have been convicted on several charges linked to the January 6 Capitol breach, a moment in history that tested the nation's democratic foundations. Toney Sheldon Bray, 46, and Ethan Bray, 25, were found guilty on a felony charge of civil disorder and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, as the Department of Justice reported.
Before their trial, Toney Bray had admitted guilt to three misdemeanor counts, including theft of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. His son, Ethan, pled guilty to two of misdemeanors counts for entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The Bray's sentencing is set for February 7, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras.
The trial presented evidence showing that, on January 6, the Brays joined in the frontline of actions that disrupted the U.S. Congress as it was engaged in certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Dressed in military-style attire and equipped with tactical gear, they were part of the crowd that breached law enforcement barriers, ultimately making their way into the Capitol building. Surveillance footage captured their movements within the structure, including their presence in the Capitol Crypt and Rotunda.
Following the incursion, Toney Bray was caught on video carrying a U.S. Capitol Police riot shield. The father and son were apprehended on June 8, 2023. Their case adds to the growing list that reiterates the breadth of the January 6 investigations. According to the DOJ, over 1,532 individuals have been charged for their actions during the breach, with more than 571 facing felony charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
