Meet Jacob Clark, Latest Coloradan Charged in U.S. Capitol Riot

Sharing photos over social media didn't pay off.

April 23, 2021

Image: Jacob Clark, circled, is seen in a fighting stance in a screen capture from January 6 shared in his FBI affidavit.

Jacob Clark, circled, is seen in a fighting stance in a screen capture from January 6 shared in his FBI affidavit. Federal Bureau of Investigation

What happens on the ground matters — Your support makes it possible.

We’re aiming to raise $17,000 by August 10, so we can deepen our reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now: grassroots protests, immigration, politics and more.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$17,000

$3,700

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Another Coloradan is facing federal charges in relation to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He's Jacob Clark of Trinidad — and according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, he was identified in part because he shared photos of himself inside the building on social media.

As first reported by CBS4, on April 22 Clark appeared at a U.S. District Court hearing in Denver, at which he learned of the charges he'll be facing: knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; and obstruction of justice/Congress.

According to the document, a friend of Clark's provided the feds with images from a now-deleted social media account that showed him inside the Capitol on January 6. Investigators were also able to identify Clark by comparing images of him from U.S. Capitol riot videos with his driver's license photo.

Among the screen captures included is the one at the top of this post, in which Clark appears to be preparing to fight a member of the Capitol's security staff. The document states that while there was no actual contact in this instance, Clark is said to have been among a group that physically engaged officers trying to bar their entry into another part of the building.

click to enlarge

In this FBI screen capture, Jacob Clark can be seen getting in the face of a law enforcer.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

A second shot shows Clark confronting a law enforcement officer who, when confronted, insisted that he was simply doing his job in trying to deny access to the invaders.

"So were the Nazis!" Clark is quoted as screaming in reply. "Stand down!"

By our count, Clark is the sixth person from Colorado to face federal charges related to the insurrection. The others are Littleton's Patrick Montgomery, Woodland Park's Robert Gieswein, Colorado Springs's Klete Keller and Glenn Wes Croy, and Jeffrey Sabol of Indian Hills. Some news agencies continue to include Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. with the Colorado crew, but he's actually from Georgia, and had just returned from a ski vacation. And while Frederick's Harlan Boen and Englewood's Stanley Williams were also arrested on January 6, the charges against them are local.

Clark was released after yesterday's hearing. For his next court appearance, a federal session in the District of Columbia slated for April 29, he's expected to take part remotely.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

A message from Michael Roberts: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of essential stories and to investigate issues that matter.

Support Today