Man defiantly shouts two words in court after receiving 10-year prison sentence for Jan. 6 charges.

Former Proud Boys ​Member Sentenced​ to 10 Years in Prison for Capitol Breach

A former member of the⁤ Proud Boys extremist group, Dominic Pezzola, was‍ sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for his involvement ​in the first breach ⁣of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. As he defiantly walked out of‍ the courtroom, Pezzola declared, “Trump ​won!”

This sentencing comes after leaders⁤ of the‍ Proud Boys were convicted of spearheading an attack aimed at ⁣preventing⁢ the peaceful transfer of power from⁢ Donald Trump to​ Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election.

Pezzola, 46,⁤ took a police officer’s riot shield​ and used ⁢it to smash a window, ⁤allowing rioters to make⁣ the initial breach into the Capitol. He even filmed a “celebratory video” with a cigar inside the building, according to ⁢prosecutors.

Although⁤ Pezzola was acquitted ​of ⁣the most high-profile charge, seditious conspiracy, he‍ was⁢ convicted‍ of​ other serious charges. Prosecutors had initially asked for a 20-year ‌prison sentence.

A “Tip of​ the Spear” in the Capitol Breach

During the⁤ trial, prosecutor Erik ⁤Kenerson described Pezzola as an enthusiastic foot soldier. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly acknowledged that Pezzola was a newcomer to the group‍ and ‍did ⁤not write the ‌increasingly ‍violent online messages ‍that his co-defendants did. However, the judge emphasized that Pezzola played ⁢a significant role in allowing rioters to enter the ⁣Capitol.

“The⁤ reality is you smashed ⁣that window in and let people begin to stream into⁢ the Capitol ⁣building and threaten the‌ lives of our ⁣lawmakers,” Judge Kelly told ⁤Pezzola. ‌”It’s not something that I ever dreamed ⁢I would have seen⁣ in our country.”

Defense attorneys had requested a ​five-year sentence, arguing that Pezzola got caught up in the ⁤chaos of the⁢ day. Pezzola testified that he initially grabbed‍ the officer’s shield to protect himself from ‍police ‍riot ⁢control measures. His‌ lawyers also⁤ claimed that he​ only broke one pane of glass, and it was‌ other rioters who caused further⁣ damage to the window.

Expressing Regret⁢ and Apology

Pezzola expressed regret​ for crossing into ​a restricted ⁣area on January 6 and apologized to the officer whose shield ⁤he took. He assured the ⁤judge that he​ had no ‍future​ plans involving extremist groups or politics.

However, as he⁢ left the courtroom,​ Pezzola ‍raised his fist and defiantly shouted,⁤ “Trump won!”

Other Sentencings and Ongoing Trials

Ethan Nordean, another former Proud Boy chapter president, is also scheduled to be sentenced on the⁢ same day.‌ Prosecutors are seeking a‌ 27-year‍ prison sentence for him.​ In ​addition, two co-defendants received ‍lengthy prison terms on Thursday: Joseph Biggs received 17‌ years, ⁢and ⁤Zachary Rehl received 15 years.

The sentencing for former⁢ top​ Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was ⁣postponed​ due to the judge’s illness. Tarrio is expected to be‌ sentenced next week.

The⁤ trial of the​ Proud ⁤Boys has exposed the extremists’ belief in the⁤ false claims that the 2020 election was⁤ stolen from Trump.

So far, over 1,100 people⁤ have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol breach. Of those, more than 600 have ⁤been convicted and sentenced.

The longest prison ‌sentence related ‌to the January 6‌ attack‍ was 18 years, given to Stewart Rhodes, the⁤ founder of another extremist ​group called ​the ‍Oath Keepers. Six members of the Oath ⁤Keepers were‌ convicted of seditious conspiracy in a separate⁤ trial ‌last year.

The Western Journal⁢ has reviewed this Associated Press story and may ‌have‌ altered it ​prior to ​publication ⁣to ensure ⁤that it meets our editorial standards.

The⁤ post Man Yells ‌2 Defiant ⁤Words⁤ in Court After Being Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Jan. 6 Charges appeared first on​ The Western Journal.