Thu. Nov 21st, 2024

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A Donald Trump supporter, Shane Jenkins, who used a tomahawk axe to smash a window at the US Capitol and threw projectiles at law enforcement officers during the January 6th Capitol riot, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, reported NBC news.
Jenkins, who is known as “Skullet” due to his shaved head and mullet, was found guilty of nine criminal counts in March, including felony civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, and destruction of government property.
The federal government had initially sought a sentence of more than 19 years, one of the longest penalties proposed in any January 6th-related case.
The most extended sentence so far was handed to Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, who received 22 years in federal prison last month after being convicted of seditious conspiracy in May.
During the sentencing hearing, Jenkins’ attorney characterized January 6th as “one of the saddest episodes in American history” and noted that there are still individuals perpetuating false claims about the 2020 election, with former President Donald Trump being among them.
According to NBC news, the government, on the other hand, condemned Jenkins’ actions as “egregious” and argued that he had premeditated the violence. Assistant US Attorney David Perri emphasized Jenkins’ lack of remorse and his belief that political violence is acceptable.
Perri also raised concerns about Jenkins’ potential reaction if former President Trump were to be convicted in one of the pending criminal cases against him.
Attorney Dennis Boyle, representing Jenkins, argued that Trump had promoted a “legal fiction” regarding the election results, and individuals like Jenkins were susceptible to Trump’s falsehoods and propaganda.
Before his sentencing, Jenkins discussed his troubled upbringing and mentioned that his life began to unravel when he discovered he was adopted. He recounted a troubled past involving substance abuse and a deadly confrontation with his stepfather, which he claimed was in self-defense.
The Justice Department revealed that Jenkins had participated in an attack on another January 6th defendant, Taylor Taranto, who was assaulted by inmates in July due to derogatory comments he had made about Ashli Babbitt and her mother. Taranto was ordered to remain in pretrial detention.
Since the Capitol attack, over 1,100 participants have been arrested, with approximately 660 individuals receiving sentences, including nearly 400 who have been incarcerated.
(Via NBC news)



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