Two friends from Ohio who took part in the uprising on the United States Capitol on January 6 were sentenced Wednesday to 45 days in prison each.
The sentence imposed on Derek Jancart and Erik Rau by Judge James Boasberg could now set a precedent, as some 600 other suspected rioters still await justice.
MM. Jancart and Rau must report to prison authorities no later than November 29.
The two men were not accused of committing acts of violence or destruction on Capitol Hill, or of trying to prevent Congress from confirming Joe Biden’s victory. Their lawyers had compared their actions to those of other rioters who escaped jail after pleading guilty to non-violent offenses.
Federal prosecutors replied that several factors justified their imprisonment instead, and that this will be the case in many future trials.
They pointed out that Mr. Jancart, a former Air Force soldier, had prepared for the violence by bringing a gas mask and transceiver radios to Washington. Mr. Rau, a steel mill worker, was equipped with a first aid kit and Kevlar gloves.
According to prosecutors, MM. Jancart and Rau spent 40 minutes in the Capitol and made their way to the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Mr. Jancart is said to have celebrated the violence on social media and to have shown no remorse when the US federal police arrested him.
Mr. Rau reportedly shouted “You are surrounded! “To the police,” Go, go, go! And “Yeah, they just smashed the guards.” The comments, prosecutors said, are “comparable to incitement to insurgency and contributed to the atmosphere of terror that day.”
“It was not a protest,” prosecutors wrote. It is important to make it clear to future rioters and potential rioters – especially those who intend to influence the democratic process inappropriately – that their actions will have consequences. “
Inexcusable gestures
Judge Boasberg hurled at the two men as the other rioters and they attempted to undermine the peaceful transfer of power after a democratic election. “There are few actions as serious as those taken by this group that day,” said the magistrate.
MM. Jancart and Rau apologized and expressed regret. Mr. Jancart said he got carried away by the moment and followed the crowd. He added that his actions were inexcusable.
Mr. Jancart was arrested at his home in Ohio in February and Mr. Rau in July. The two men pleaded guilty to misconduct on Capitol Hill, an offense punishable by six months in prison.
There are few actions as serious as those taken by this group that day
More than 80 defendants have pleaded guilty to charges related to the insurgency, but only seven others, besides MM. Jancart and Rau, have been convicted so far: Florida man sentenced to eight months in prison for entering the Senate chamber; two men were sentenced to the time already spent in prison after six months of detention; two others were placed under house arrest; and two received a suspended sentence.
Two other rioters, Andrew Ryan Bennett and Danielle Doyle, will face their sentence on Friday. Prosecutors are asking for a three-month house arrest for Mr. Bennett and two months for Mr.me Doyle.
More than fifty other rioters will know their sentence by the end of the year.
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