Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 23
- Location
- Miami Lakes , Florida
- Charges
- Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; 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; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Barbara Balmaseda entered the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, through the Senate Wing Door at approximately 2:16 pm, just a few minutes after that entrance was breached by protestors, according to court documents. She and a companion, Gabriel Garcia, were inside the building for nearly an hour, and Balmaseda was seen in video footage exiting with a white rectangular object that she obtained inside. A few days later, she texted Garcia: "I also have your sunglasses in my purse and you have my taser." She was arrested on December 14, 2023.
Case History
Balmaseda pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Jury trial set for 3/25/2025. On 1/21/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice.
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.