South Jersey Farmer Who Breached Capitol Has Been Sentenced

WASHINGTON, DC — A South Jersey farmer was sentenced Wednesday to 60 days in prison for his role in 2021's U.S. Capitol breach.

Ezekiel Kurt Stecher, of Sewell, will then undergo two years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty June 16 to felony civil disorder.

Stecher runs a family farm in Mantua.

The man joined a group of rioters who assaulted police during the Capitol breach in a collective effort to disrupt a Congressional session that certified Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, according to federal authorities.

Before the Jan. 6 breach, Stecher attended the "Stop The Steal" rally in which then-President Trump falsely claimed that he won the 2020 election. Stecher then marched with crowds toward the Capitol building, where he saw rioters attack police lines to illegally enter the Capitol, according to court documents.

In the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, Stecher climbed atop a ledge near the archway to view the scuffles between rioters and police, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He then stepped off the ledge and forcefully banged on the archway's wall with his hand more than a dozen times, the DOJ said.

Stecher advanced deeper into the tunnel and repeatedly yelled at law enforcement in the area, authorities said. When pepper spray and other irritants filled the tunnel, Stecher used his jacket hood to cover himself, according to the DOJ.

For the next 10 minutes, Stecher remained deep inside the tunnel, near the swinging double doors that lead to the Capitol. Just feet away, rioters assaulted police, attempted to impede their vision with strobe lights, sprayed chemicals at officers, threw objects in the tunnel and robbed police of their riot shields, the DOJ said.

At the double doors, the DOJ says Stecher and other rioters pushed through law enforcement lines as a collective "Heave! Ho!" Stecher was later forced to retreat from the tunnel after law enforcement pepper-sprayed him.

According to court documents, as Stecher exited the tunnel, he told rioters, "If we can't push them, drag 'em!" After leaving the tunnel, he remained on the inaugural stage inside the Capitol's restricted area while rioters continued to battle police.

Stecher was arrested on March 9, 2021, in Mantua.