Michael Sparks

Michael Sparks, a former factory worker from Cecilia, Kentucky, was the first rioter to breach the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, climbing through a window near the Senate Wing Door that Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola had smashed with a stolen riot shield and jumping down onto the floor at about 2:13 p.m. despite hearing screams of "don't go in"; Capitol Police Sergeant Victor Nichols tried to stop him with pepper spray, and prosecutors said Sparks' entry acted as a "green light" that directly contributed to the building's breach just one minute before Vice President Mike Pence and senators evacuated. He pleaded not guilty to all charges; a jury found him guilty on all charges on 3/1/2024, including felony civil disorder, though the obstruction charge was later dismissed by the court. He was sentenced on 8/27/2024 to 53 months of incarceration, 36 months of supervised release, a $170 special assessment, and $2,000 in restitution.