Ross woman expected to plead in Capitol riot case

A Ross woman charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is expected to plead guilty next month.

Jennifer Heinl appeared via video at a status conference on Thursday at which both the prosecution and defense said they were working on a plea agreement.

“We are very close to reaching a pretrial resolution,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Blake.

Heinl was charged March 18 following an FBI investigation of a Bridgeville man, Kenneth Grayson, who also is charged in connection wioth the riot.

According to the complaint filed against her, Heinl attended the riot — even though she told investigators in an interview that she had left D.C. before it occurred. In investigating Grayson, agents found images of Heinl inside the Capitol in the Crypt. Additional video footage from security cameras inside the Capitol and police body cameras showed Heinl inside the Rotunda with Grayson and in other restricted areas, the FBI said.

In the images, she was seen wearing a distinctive red, long-sleeve jersey and “Trump 20” written on the back, along with a black hat with white lettering.

Heinl is charged with entering a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building.

Defense attorney Martin Dietz had filed a motion to withdraw in the case on Monday, citing “an irreconcilable conflict,” without further explanation.

However, during the brief hearing on Thursday, Dietz said he would remain on the case.

“Ms. Heinl and I have resolved whatever differences there were between us,” he said.

Dietz told U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan that the defense and prosecution were basically just waiting on paperwork to finalize the plea, which is now scheduled for Oct. 21.