Quincy couple pleads guilty to Jan. 6 related charges

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two years after being arrested, a Quincy couple pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor charges stemming from the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Christina Gerding and Jason Gerding pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating and picketing inside the Capitol building. They will be sentenced on May 16 and could face up to six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000.

Jason and Christina Gerding were initially charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. A criminal complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia on Jan. 21, 2021 and they were arrested in Quincy on Jan. 27, 2021.

Earlier that same month, a photo surfaced on social media of a man and a woman wearing “Trump 2020” attire in what appeared to be the Capitol Rotunda, along with the words “Quincy made it inside,” federal prosecutors said.

The Gerding’s were some of the first of more than 30 Illinois residents who were charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.

On Jan. 6, someone posted a photo on the Twitter account that allegedly depicted Jason and Christina Gerding in “Trump 2020” attire in the Capitol Rotunda, standing in front of the painting entitled the “Declaration of Independence” by John Trumbull.

Attached to the message was a screenshot of a Facebook conversation involving Christina Gerding where she wrote “Quincy made it inside.” After someone commented on the post that they hoped she would be locked up, she replied, “well since they let us inside; opened the door for us I think I’ll be just fine.”