Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 56
- Location
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- Charges
- 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 guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Willard Thomas Bostic Jr. and his daughter, Meghan Rutledge, breached the U.S. Capitol building together on Jan. 6, 2021, federal prosecutors allege. According to charging documents filed in court, investigators were tipped off to Rutledge's alleged involvement by two people who knew Rutledge and had seen her post photos to Facebook from in and around the Capitol that day. "After miles and miles of walking and climbing and climbing some more we made it inside the capitol building," Rutledge allegedly wrote. "What an experience for the books." Federal investigators also used surveillance footage to identify Rutledge and Bostic among the mob inside the building, according to an FBI agent's statement of facts in the case. Cellphone records cited in that document also allegedly place Bostic inside the Capitol during the riot. Investigators also allegedly found evidence that Bostic had communciated by phone "with an individual who coordinated convoys, communication plans, maps and packing lists for individuals planning to participate in the events on Jan. 6, 2021. On the packing list provided by the protest organizer, the following items were recommended: ASP baton, body armor, helmets and portable chargers." Both Bostic and Rutledge were arrested on Oct. 13, 2021. According to a sentencing memorandum filed in federal court, Bostic is a retired U.S. Navy chief. "While W. Bostic’s military service is laudable, it renders his conduct on January 6 all the more troubling," the memorandum states.
Case History
Bostic pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 3/9/2023 to 36 Months of Probation; 90 days location monitoring; 40 hours of community service; Special Assessment of $10; $500 restitution. Bostic received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
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.