BAKER COUNTY, Fla. – A former Baker County Sheriff’s Office employee was arrested by the FBI on Thursday morning in connection with the violent riot at the Capitol three weeks ago.
Brad Weeks, who worked in the IT department and did contract work for the Sheriff’s Office, was arrested outside a Waffle House restaurant in Macclenny.
He now faces charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, both misdemeanors.
Weeks, 43, appeared in federal court in Jacksonville Thursday afternoon. Judge James Klindt released Weeks on a $5,000 bond and imposed conditions on his release — he must give his guns to a family member, wear a GPS tracking device and he can’t travel outside of the Middle District of Florida which spans most of the middle of the state. He is also not allowed to have contact with an unnamed companion with whom he traveled to Washington D.C. with on Jan. 6.
He can be rearrested if he violates the conditions of his release.
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Weeks told The Baker County Press last week that he was in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 and “inhaled some tear gas after scaling a wall outside the Capitol Building before going inside.”
His interview with the newspaper was part of the evidence collected by the FBI which led to his arrest.
Weeks shared a video of himself at the Capitol on social media in which he can be heard saying, “We reached the steps. We have had to climb scaffolding, we have had to climb ladders, we have had to break things to get through, but we have gotten through. We have gotten through and we are taking back the Capitol and we are taking back our country. This is our 1776. This is how it’s going to happen. This is where tyranny will fall. This is where America will rise.”
A U.S. Capitol Police Supervisory Special Agent confirmed that photos also show Weeks inside the U.S. Capitol Building.
The video was later removed from Facebook.
The mob entered the building as lawmakers were certifying President Joe Biden’s election win.
If convicted on both counts, Weeks faces a maximum of 18 months in federal prison and fines of more than $100,000. He could also be forced to pay restitution for the property damage done at the Capitol.
Following his release, Weeks will have a virtual appearance with Washington D.C. prosecutors on Jan 26.