Key takeaways:
- Joseph Padilla, 43, of Cleveland, Tennessee was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot.
- Padilla was accused of throwing a flagpole at a police officer’s head and engaging in a battle with law enforcement officers.
- The Capitol riot resulted in the deaths of five people and the injury of 140 police officers, and over 400 people have been charged in connection with the riot.
A Tennessee man was sentenced to more than six years in prison on Wednesday for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. Joseph Padilla, 43, of Cleveland, Tennessee, was convicted in May of assault with a dangerous weapon, obstruction of Congress and other charges after a bench trial in Washington’s federal court.
Padilla, a disabled Army veteran and former prison corrections officer, was accused of throwing a flagpole at a police officer’s head and engaging in a battle with law enforcement officers at the Capitol. He had previously written on social media about wanting to “take over the Capitol building” before the riot.
U.S. District Judge John D. Bates found Padilla guilty and ordered him to serve 78 months in prison. Federal prosecutors had sought a sentence of just over 14 years, which would have been among the 10 longest sentences given to Jan. 6 rioters.
Padilla’s attorney argued for a lesser sentence, citing his client’s military service and his mental health issues. Padilla had previously sworn to protect the United States and uphold the Constitution, but on January 6th he actively fought against them.
The Capitol riot resulted in the deaths of five people and the injury of 140 police officers. The Justice Department has charged more than 400 people in connection with the riot, and more than 250 have been convicted.
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