Texas Man Convicted of “Wearing Military Gear” on Jan 6

The latest trial of the trespassers who entered the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, has come to a close. 55-year-old Larry Brock, a Texas resident and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, was convicted of multiple charges yesterday in Washington. As with so many of the other rioters we’ve seen being rushed through the courts, both prosecutors and the media seemed hard-pressed to come up with any specifics as to what Brock did on that day to warrant a conviction in federal court that will very likely result in a lengthy prison sentence. The one thing everyone seemed to agree on was that Brock was “guilty” of wearing “military gear” (a tactical vest and a helmet) which is now apparently either a crime or indicative of criminal activity somehow. (CNN)

A Texas man who served in the US Air Force was convicted on Wednesday of six charges in the US Capitol attack on , when prosecutors say he entered the Senate chamber dressed in military gear.

A federal judge in Washington, DC, found Larry Brock, 55, of Grapevine, Texas, guilty of several misdemeanors and the felony of obstructing an official proceeding during the Capitol riot. He faces a statutory maximum of 20 years behind bars, though federal guidelines will likely lead to a far lower sentence.

The retired lieutenant colonel chose to have his trial before a judge instead of a jury.

You can read the full press release on Brock’s conviction from the Department of Justice here.

The story of Larry Brock’s involvement in the riot is rather short, as was his participation in the event. He didn’t enter the building until 2:24 pm, well after all of the breaking of windows and doors had taken place. There is no mention of his ever having come face to face with any Capitol Hill police or other law enforcement personnel, so he clearly didn’t try to attack any of them.

Brock “walked around” (that’s the description used by the Justice Department) various parts of the building for a while. He found a discarded pair of plastic flex-cuffs near the Rotunda, picked them up, and carried them around with him. There is no mention of him ever trying to use them on anyone. In perhaps his most serious offense, he entered the Senate chambers and “rifled through paperwork on some Senators’ desks,” though he was not accused of taking anything. He left the building at 3:01 pm after spending roughly 37 minutes inside.

That’s it. That was the entirety of Larry Brock’s participation in the riot. He made the curious choice of having his case heard by a judge rather than before a jury. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates found him guilty of six charges with little delay. Like the others before him, Brock was convicted of one felony (obstruction of an official proceeding) and five misdemeanors, including entering and remaining in a restricted building, three different counts of disorderly conduct, and, of course, “parading” in the Capitol Building.

Brock didn’t damage any property, he didn’t physically attack anyone, and he didn’t steal anything. When he is sentenced in February, he is facing up to twenty years in prison, though the judge is expected to give him significantly less than that. He will spend years behind bars for the equivalent of trespassing and doing so “while wearing military gear.”

The obvious political persecution of perceived ideological opponents of the current administration continues apace. As with the others, I’m not saying that Larry Brock didn’t break the law and shouldn’t be held accountable for his actions. I’m saying that these sentences are massively disproportionate to those received by people who have been convicted of far worse and more violent crimes during other riots around the country. Unequally applied justice is no form of justice at all.