2 CT Residents Charged At Capitol Nowhere Near Building: Report

CONNECTICUT — Many in Connecticut may now know the names of Maurcio Mendez and Victoria Bergeson, who were charged this week in the aftermath of the chaos that engulfed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police Department initially listed more than 60 names of people who were charged and the two Connecticut residents names were on this list. Newspapers and websites across Connecticut and the nation published the list of names.

The charges were curfew violation and unlawful entry.

But what did that mean? Did they enter the Capitol Building? What exactly did they allegedly do? A lot of those questions remained unanswered for days but Bergeson's attorney, Samuel Bogash, offered some context to the charges.

He spoke with Hearst Connecticut media on several occasions since Friday. Bogash maintains that Bergeson, 40, of Groton, didn't even know she was on the U.S. Capitol grounds when she was charged along with Mendez, 40, who is also of Groton.

Bogash told Hearst that Bergeson was never near the Capitol Building and was actually near the Peace Monument, which is located in a far remote corner of the grounds and most people don't even know it is part of the Capitol property. The Peace Monument "was erected in 1877-1878 to commemorate the naval deaths at sea during the Civil War."

Bogash said it's grossly unfair that “People assume she’s part of that crazed mob" while adding, “She was never even that close to the building.”

He said his client will opt for a jury trial because he is confident that the federal government can't prove Bergeson was knowingly on the Capitol property.

The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia arrest log says the pair were arrested in the 100 block of First Street Northwest, not far from the Capitol Building. They were charged at 7:15 p.m. which was several hours after the mob stormed inside the Capitol Building.

A Metro PD spokesperson told Patch the pair were unlawfully on Capitol grounds. No additional details were released by authorities, but an arrest affidavit said both Connecticut residents were told to leave the area and refused, and then they were taken into custody, Hearst reports.

Five people died during Wednesday's chaos, one of whom was shot by police officers trying to stop crowds from further penetrating the building. Another was a Capitol Police officer.

>>>Read the full CT Hearst story here.