A Louisiana man, who decided to skip work and attend the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, has been arrested by authorities after he was allegedly caught on video taking a box of chocolate cupcakes off a table during the riots. The man, who was subsequently fired from his job, now faces legal consequences for his actions.
Matthew Ryan Matulich, a 34-year-old individual, is currently facing misdemeanor charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct, and picketing in a Capitol building. This information was announced in a news release by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Related posts
The allegations are outlined in the statement of facts. Video footage allegedly shows him entering the Capitol building through the Senate Wing Door at 2:15 p.m. He can be seen in the video wearing a red “Make America Great Again” baseball cap with “45” embroidered on the back. At 2:42 p.m., the footage captures Matulich marching with other rioters through a corridor on the third floor of the Senate side, carrying an American flag on a flagpole, according to court documents.
According to the document, he is spotted at 2:31 p.m. taking a box of cupcakes from a table in a corridor on the House of Representatives side of the first floor of the Capitol building.
The FBI discovered Matulich on September 29, 2021, following an interview with a person referred to as Witness 1 in court documents. Witness 1, who was believed to have been present at the Capitol on January 6 alongside Matulich, later pleaded guilty to trespassing charges.
According to court documents, Witness 1 informed investigators that he first encountered Matulich in October 2020. They bonded over their mutual interest in current events and political matters, leading them to travel together to Washington, D.C., for the “Stop the Steal” rally organized by former President Donald Trump.
On February 22, 2022, the FBI conducted an interview with one of Matulich’s previous employers at a medical supply company. During the interview, the employer informed investigators that Matulich had been employed at the company for a few months. In early January 2021, Matulich approached his boss and requested time off to travel to Washington. Unfortunately, his boss was unable to grant his vacation request. Despite this, Matulich proceeded to take the time off anyway and failed to show up for work for three consecutive days. As a result, he was terminated from his position on January 8, according to court documents.
Matulich is scheduled to make his first court appearance on May 16. As of Friday morning, there was no attorney listed in the docket.
Over the course of 39 months following the Jan. 6 insurrection, officials have reported that a total of 1,387 individuals have been charged in connection with the breach of the Capitol.
