Three Sentenced for Roles in Capitol Breach on Jan. 6, 2021
On March 6, 2023, Larry Brock, a 55-year-old from Grapevine, Texas, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for the felony count of obstruction of an official proceeding.[0] He was ordered to serve a total of 18 months in prison for five misdemeanors: illegally entering and remaining in a restricted area; causing disruption in a Capitol Building; entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; creating a disturbance in a Capitol Building; and taking part in a parade, demonstration, or picket in a Capitol Building.[1] All sentences should be served concurrently.[2] U.S. District Judge John Bates ordered Brock to serve two years on supervised release after his sentence and to perform 100 hours of community service.[3]
On the same day, Mitchell Gardner II, 34, of Seffner, Florida, was sentenced in the District of Columbia to 55 months in prison on the felony charges of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon.[4] On June 27, 2022, Gardner pleaded guilty.[5] U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta mandated a prison sentence, as well as 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $3,500.[5]
Stevens, a Pensacola man was sentenced to five years in federal prison Friday for his role in the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021.[6] Last year, Stevens faced a bench trial before a U.S. district judge, and was convicted on nine counts in connection with the Capitol breach. These included four felony charges of aiding, abetting, assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers; one felony charge of disrupting a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder; and one misdemeanor charge of violent conduct in the Capitol building or grounds.[7]
In an effort to overpower the outnumbered officers, the U.S. Attorney's Office's sentencing memorandum states that he employed his body to physically push in unison with other rioters, thus forming a unified strength. Realizing that their uncoordinated efforts would be fruitless, he used his hands and voice to count down, enabling the rioters to push in unison. Realizing he needed a larger surface area to pin officers during the battle in order to break through them, he used a stolen police shield.[1]
0. “Retired lieutenant colonel in Air Force sentenced to 24 months in prison for Jan. 6 participation” UPI News, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/03/17/january-6-rioter-sentenced-24-months/6251679081885
1. “Grapevine U.S. Air Force veteran who searched papers on senators’ desks is sentenced” AOL, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.aol.com/news/grapevine-u-air-force-veteran-214552838.html
2. “Former Air Force Lt. Colonel Sentenced On Jan. 6 Charges” Black Star News, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.blackstarnews.com/us-politics/justice/former-air-force-lt-colonel-sentenced-on-jan-6-charges.html
3. “Air Force veteran, Jan. 6 rioter sentenced to two years in prison” The Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/17/air-force-veteran-larry-brock-sentenced-jan-6
4. “Seffner man gets 4 1/2 years prison for attacking cops in Jan. 6 Capitol riot” Tampa Bay Times, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2023/03/17/florida-capitol-riot-defendant-guilty-plea-prison-sentence-mitchell-gardner/
5. “Florida Man Sentenced on Three Felony Charges for Actions in Jan. 6 Capitol Breach – Defendant Used Chemical …” Sierra Sun Times, 18 Mar. 2023, https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/44629-florida-man-sentenced-on-three-felony-charges-for-actions-in-jan-6-capitol-breach-defendant-used-chemical-spray-against-law-enforcement-officers
6. “Pensacola man sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in U.S. Capitol riots” WEAR, 14 Mar. 2023, https://weartv.com/news/local/pensacola-man-sentenced-to-5-years-in-prison-for-role-in-us-capitol-riots
7. “Pensacola man who ‘reigned terror on the police …' in Jan. 6 riots sentenced to 5 years” Yahoo! Voices, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/pensacola-man-reigned-terror-police-180503232.html
