WASHINGTON — A army veteran who was convicted of injuring a police officer’s hand throughout the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Friday to 5 years in jail.
John George Todd III declined to deal with the courtroom earlier than U.S. District Decide Beryl Howell sentenced him. The choose mentioned Todd, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, hasn’t proven any regret for his function in damaging the nation’s “fragile” democratic establishments.
“This isn’t a patriot. This isn’t conduct turning into of a Marine,” the choose informed Todd, 34.
Prosecutors really useful a jail sentence of 12 years and 7 months for Todd, who traveled from his Missouri dwelling to attend then-President Donald Trump’s “Cease the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.
“Because the nation approaches anther contentious election 12 months, one that may see a rematch of the 2020 Presidential election that was at challenge for the rioters on January 6, each January 6 sentencing sends a message in regards to the significance of democratic values and the rule of regulation,” prosecutors wrote.
After getting into the Capitol, Todd repeatedly pushed in opposition to officers contained in the Rotunda, ignored instructions to go away and screamed profanities at police.
Todd was carrying a fiberglass pole hooked up to a flag. When a Metropolitan Police Division officer tried to seize it from him, Todd and the officer wrestled for management of the pole till it splintered and minimize the officer’s hand.
The officer, Noah Rathbun, wanted seven stitches and missed 9 days of labor. Todd argued that the officer’s accidents had been self-inflicted.
A distinct rioter, retired New York Police Division officer Thomas Webster, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for attacking Rathbun outdoors the Capitol earlier that day. Webster swung a flagpole at Rathbun after which tackled him and grabbed his fuel masks.
Todd has been jailed since a jury in February convicted him of six counts, together with obstruction of the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory over Trump.
“This was a harmful first, the place the peaceable transition to a brand new presidential administration was disrupted,” the choose mentioned.
Todd initially was charged with solely misdemeanors, however a grand jury indicted him on felony costs after prosecutors found video of him assaulting Rathbun.
After his arrest, Todd repeatedly violated the phrases of his pretrial launch. He moved from Blue Springs, Missouri, to South Carolina to be in his sister’s care.
Todd’s attorneys mentioned he’s a fight veteran with post-traumatic stress dysfunction who wants psychological well being remedy, not incarceration.
“Incarceration would solely exacerbate Mr. Todd’s well being and psychological well being issues,” a protection legal professional wrote final 12 months.
Todd was a Marine from 2009 to 2013 and served in Afghanistan, his household mentioned. Todd acquired an “apart from honorable” discharge from the army associated to his abuse of alcohol, based on prosecutors.
Greater than 100 cops had been injured in the course of the riot. Over 1,400 individuals have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Almost 900 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds of them receiving a time period of imprisonment starting from a couple of days to 22 years.
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