A mother and son from Iowa were arrested Friday on federal charges related to last month’s rioting at the U.S. Capitol, adding them to a growing list of parent-child pairs accused of participating.
Deborah Sandoval of Des Moines and Salvador Sandoval Jr. of nearby Ankeny appeared before a federal magistrate judge afterward and were released. They are due back in court on Thursday, Feb. 25.
Eugene Kowel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office, said the Sandovals were arrested for “their actions at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6,” when the complex was breached.
Charging documents filed in both cases remained sealed as of Saturday morning, so it was not immediately clear what specifically the Sandovals are alleged to have done on Capitol Hill last month.
A public defender appointed to represent the Sandovals did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened federal criminal cases into more than 200 people so far as part of the FBI’s investigation into the activities surrounding the storming of the Capitol.
Among those defendants are at least three other parent-child pairs, in addition to the Sandovals: Kevin Seefried and his son, Hunter Seefried; James Herman “Sonny” Uptmore and his son, Chance Anthony Uptmore; and Lisa Eisenhart and her son, Eric Munchel. Additionally, a husband and wife – Bennie Alvin Parker, 70, and Sandra Ruth Parker, 60, – were arrested Thursday in Ohio.
The FBI said that Mrs. Sandoval faces charges of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly impeding or disrupting the orderly conduct of government; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. The FBI said Mr. Sandoval faces charges of obstructing, impeding or interfering with law enforcement; knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without permission; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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