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On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced a Texas man to 5 years successful situation and fined him $200,000 complete his Jan. 6 actions astatine nan U.S. Capitol (pictured during a candlelight vigil connected nan one-year day of nan riots successful 2022). File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
May 2 (UPI) -- A cardinal subordinate successful nan January 6, 2021, riots connected nan U.S. Capitol who was accused of assaulting constabulary pinch capsicum spray and attempting to incite much unit has been sentenced to arsenic galore arsenic 5 years successful situation and fined $200,000, a U.S. District Court judge announced Thursday.
Ryan Nichols pleaded guilty past autumn to a felony count of obstructing justness successful nan Jan. 6 case, arsenic good arsenic a felony count of assaulting Capitol constabulary officers while they were doing their jobs.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who sentenced Nichols connected Thursday, said that while nan defendant's apology "appears to beryllium sincere," Nichols made "very rigorous comments" that were recorded astir his desire for more violence successful nan future.
Nichols, 33, of Longview, Texas, has been a longtime ardent protagonist of erstwhile President Donald Trump.
"So if you want to cognize wherever Ryan Nichols stands? Ryan Nichols stands for violence," Nichols said successful a video played successful nan courtroom earlier his sentencing. "You request to get your weapons."
Nichols had been recognized by daytime TV show big Ellen DeGeneres for his hurricane alleviation work, but he utilized that notoriety and astatine slightest portion of nan the resources she gave him successful support of his insurrection effort, nan video shows.
His attorneys based on that Nichols, a Marine Corps seasoned who suffered from PTSD, had not been taking his prescribed medications during nan Jan. 6 riot and, therefore, was not acting successful a measurement that he usually would. They asked Lamberth to merchandise Nichols, citing each those factors and nan truth that he has already spent 3 years successful confinement.
The $200,000 good is nan largest yet levied successful conjunction pinch nan Capitol riots, and officials arrived astatine that number because they said Nichols refused to return portion successful a financial study and location was nary grounds he couldn't salary nan fine, officials said.
A crowdfunding relationship established for Nichols and his family has truthful acold raised $235,000. Nichol's lawyer said nan suspect planned to entreaty nan fine.
Prompted by a baseless belief that nan 2020 statesmanlike predetermination was "stolen," Nichols traveled pinch his friend Alex Kirk Harkrider, 36, according to tribunal documents.
In nan days starring up to their roadworthy travel to Washington, D.C., nan 2 exchanged matter messages astir various assemblage armor and weapons, and were readying and organizing nan trip, according to prosecutors.
Nichols besides told Harkrider successful different matter that, "Dad and I are building a weapon instrumentality successful nan motortruck today. Just cognize I person intel that Washington will beryllium a warzone. Big anticipation that existent conflict goes down," tribunal documents show.
Harkrider was recovered blameworthy successful January connected charges of civilian disorder, obstruction of a civilian proceeding, assaulting/resisting/impeding definite officers utilizing a vulnerable weapon, theft of authorities property.
Federal officials began charging rioters arsenic acold backmost arsenic 2021. People successful each authorities person been charged, according to nan U.S. Justice Department.
"More than 1,265 defendants person been charged successful astir each 50 states and nan District of Columbia," nan department said successful an analysis.
