Cranberry man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

A Cranberry man with a military background faces federal charges in connection with the U.S. Capitol insurrection last year in Washington, D.C., federal officials said.

Jordan Bonenberger, 26, is charged with disorderly conduct in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; entering and remaining in a restricted building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Bonenberger appeared briefly in front of Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan during a virtual hearing on Friday, speaking only once in order to confirm that he wished to proceed via video.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Bonenberger, FBI agents in Pittsburgh identified him and an unnamed woman in photos and videos captured throughout the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 violence, including inside the Rotunda and the West Corridor.

Investigators wrote that two separate witnesses who knew Bonenberger identified him with varying degrees of certainty from photos captured inside and outside of the Capitol. The name of the woman he was seen with in the images is redacted throughout the 15-page complaint.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo Song referred to the woman as a co-defendant and a witness against Bonenberger and noted that she is not in custody. As part of his pre-trial release, Bonenberger was ordered to not have contact with the woman.

Both Song and Bonenberger’s attorney, J. Daniel Hull, referred to Bonenberger as being in the military. A Facebook page confirmed in court records as belonging to Bonenberger includes a photo that shows him in a Marine Corps uniform.

According to the complaint, federal agents tried to set up an interview with Bonenberger, to which he initially agreed. When they arrived at his home on Feb. 3, 2021, he allowed them inside but “ultimately declined to be interviewed.” Agents tried against July 12, and Bonenberger again declined, according to the complaint.

Investigators said phone records showed a cellphone using the same number that agents used to contact Bonenberger pinged inside the Capitol for about 15 minutes the day of the insurrection.

Bonenberger’s attorney, J. Daniel Hull, declined the opportunity for his client to contest that he was not the correct Jordan Bonenberger federal authorities were searching for.

“We will waive that,” he said of the identity hearing. “He is the right person.”

Hull did request a preliminary examination, which he said Bonenberger wishes to take place in Washington, D.C. That hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 24.