WASHINGTON (AP) — A navy 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 handle the courtroom earlier than U.S. District Decide Beryl Howell sentenced him. The decide 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 changing into of a Marine,” the decide informed Todd, 34.
Prosecutors advisable a jail sentence of 12 years and 7 months for Todd, who traveled from his Missouri house 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 yr, one that may see a rematch of the 2020 Presidential election that was at problem 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 coming into the Capitol, Todd repeatedly pushed towards officers contained in the Rotunda, ignored instructions to depart 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 reduce the officer’s hand.
The officer, Noah Rathbun, wanted seven stitches and missed 9 days of labor. Todd argued that the officer’s accidents have been self-inflicted.
A distinct rioter, retired New York Police Division officer Thomas Webster, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for attacking Rathbun exterior 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 decide mentioned.
Todd initially was charged with solely misdemeanors, however a grand jury indicted him on felony fees 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 lawyer wrote final yr.
Todd was a Marine from 2009 to 2013 and served in Afghanistan, his household mentioned. Todd obtained an “aside from honorable” discharge from the navy associated to his abuse of alcohol, in line with prosecutors.
Greater than 100 cops have been injured throughout the riot. Over 1,400 folks 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.
