North Shore Brothers Plead Guilty To Capitol Riot Charges

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two North Shore brothers pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor charges of illegally protesting inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Christian Kulas, 24, of Kenilworth, and Mark Kulas Jr., 27, of Lake Forest, each pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a misdemeanor offense that carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Prosecutors said the two brothers travelled to Washington, D.C., the day before the riot and attended the rally that preceded it in support of former President Donald Trump.

"Both Christian Kulas and Mark Kulas, Jr. wore hats featuring political slogans in support of then-President Trump," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Friedman said, according to a statement of facts that both brothers acknowledged as true. "At around 2:26 p.m., Christian Kulas and Mark Kulas, Jr. walked with a large crowd of individuals into the U.S. Capitol Building, through doors that had earlier been forced open by rioters."

According to the FBI, investigators got multiple tips about Christian Kulas' involvement in the incident after he allegedly posted a video on social media that shows the inside of the building as a crowd breached the building to disrupt the electoral college certification.

The video included Kulas' voice saying, "storming the Capitol," according to charging documents.

Related: North Shore Man Posted Videos Of Himself During Capitol Riot

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"Christian Kulas and Mark Kulas, Jr. walked around the interior of the U.S. Capitol Building, including through areas known as the Capitol Rotunda and Statuary Hall. Christian Kulas shouted and cheered in support of the rioters, including a group of rioters using force in an effort to breach a police line and to open a doorway," according to the statement of facts.

"There is no evidence that Christian Kulas or Mark Kulas, Jr. otherwise assisted the rioters using force against the police line in an effort to open the doorway," it said.

Christian Kulas was initially charged with disorderly conduct on U.S. Capitol grounds and unlawful entry on restricted building and grounds. Mark Kulas Jr. was charged with a single parading, demonstrating and picketing count in ahead of his scheduled guilty plea.

The Kulas brothers' plea agreement does not include sentencing guidelines, but it does include agreed restitution. The Jan. 6 riot cost about $1.5 million in damage to the Capitol, according to the agreement. Both have agreed to pay $500 as part of their pleas.

Related: Second Son Of Kulas Maids Owners Charged Over Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

Both brothers are being represented by white-collar criminal defense attorney Rachel Cannon, a former federal prosecutor.

During Monday's hearing, Cannon told U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan that Mark Kulas has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, according to Law & Crime, while Christian Kulas reportedly told the judge he currently receives treatment at the Neuroscience Center in Illinois.

Sentencing memos discussing mitigating and aggravating factors are due by the end of February in both cases. Sentencing hearings have been scheduled for March 7.

Last month, 53-year-old former CEO Bradley Rukstales, the first Illinois resident to be sentenced to a crime related to the Capitol riot, was ordered to spend 30 days behind bars after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of knowingly parading, demonstrating and picketing inside the Capitol — the same charge as the one to which the Kulas brothers pleaded guilty.