In the ongoing aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, federal judges continue to hand down significant prison sentences to participants.
These rioters stormed the Capitol and brutally attacked officers on Jan. 6, 2021. John Sullivan, for example, who captured widely-circulated footage during the riot and was known as “Jayden X,” was given a lengthy sentence of more than seven years. Sullivan, an “antiestablishment” activist who authorities say aimed to “foment anarchy,” stands as an outlier amongst defendants, many of whom were driven by falsehoods surrounding the 2020 election.
In another case, Andrew Quentin Taake’s sentencing hearing became contentious over a sentencing enhancement for using a metal whip and bear spray against officers. Andrew, 35, was delayed when his lawyer disputed the judge adding an enhancement to his client’s punishment for inflicting bodily injury on an officer based on an officer’s testimony he was injured by bear spray. The new enhancement would bring Taake’s sentencing range to between 87 and 108 months — or seven and nine years.
Isreal Easterday was 19 years old when he joined a mob of Donald Trump supporters in invading the Capitol. He used pepper spray to assault two Capitol police officers who were separately guarding the East Rotunda Doors. Chief Judge James Boasberg cited Easterday’s youth as a reason for handing down a prison term — two years and six months — that was over five times lower than the Justice Department’s initial sentencing recommendation.
Furthermore, David Joseph Gietzen’s case demonstrates the intersection of personal convictions and criminal consequences. Gietzen, who struck an officer with a pole and later became a fugitive. Gietzen told U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols that he didn’t intend to hurt anybody that day. But he didn’t express any regret or remorse for his actions on Jan. 6.
More than 100 police officers were injured during the Jan. 6 attack. Over 1,350 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. More than 800 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from a few days to 22 years.
Relevant articles:
– Jan. 6 rioter who sought to ‘incite violence’ by Trump supporters set to be sentenced, NBC News, 04/27/2024
– whip toting Jan. 6 rioter goes haywire, Law & Crime, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:52:00 GMT
– Jan. 6 rioter with ‘I heart TRUMP’ hat and a Confederate flag gets prison for assaults on officers, AOL, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:12:02 GMT
– J6 rioter who struck officer with pole sentenced to 6 years in prison, Fox News, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:33:00 GMT
– Teenage Capitol rioter who pepper-sprayed police with Confederate flag in hand sentenced, FOX 5 DC, Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:56:43 GMT