On Thursday, a U.S. District Court judge announced that a participant in the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and fined $200,000. This individual was accused of assaulting police officers with pepper spray and attempting to incite further violence.
Ryan Nichols admitted his guilt last autumn to a felony charge of obstructing justice in the January 6 case. He also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting Capitol police officers while they were performing their duties.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who sentenced Nichols on Thursday, acknowledged the sincerity of the defendant’s apology. However, Lamberth also highlighted the concerning remarks made by Nichols regarding his inclination towards further violence in the future.
Nichols, a passionate advocate of former President Donald Trump, hails from Longview, Texas. At 33 years old, he has consistently shown unwavering support for the former leader.
“In a video played in the courtroom before his sentencing, Ryan Nichols made his stance clear. According to Nichols, he stands for violence and urges others to arm themselves by saying, ‘You need to get your weapons.'”
In the video, it is shown that Nichols, who had gained recognition from the daytime TV show host Ellen DeGeneres for his efforts in hurricane relief work, utilized his newfound fame and some of the resources provided by her to support his insurrection endeavor.
According to his attorneys, Nichols, a Marine Corps veteran grappling with PTSD, was not adhering to his prescribed medications during the January 6 riot. Consequently, they contended that his behavior deviated from his usual conduct. Taking into account these factors, along with Nichols’ three-year stint in confinement, they appealed to Lamberth for his release.
Officials have stated that the $200,000 fine imposed in connection with the Capitol riots is the largest one to date. They arrived at this amount because Nichols allegedly refused to participate in a financial analysis and there is no evidence suggesting that he is unable to pay the fine.
A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to support Nichols and his family, and it has already raised an impressive amount of $235,000. According to Nichols’ attorney, he intends to appeal the fine.
According to court documents, Nichols traveled with his friend Alex Kirk Harkrider, 36, prompted by a baseless belief that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen.”
According to prosecutors, in the days leading up to their road trip to Washington, D.C., the two communicated via text messages discussing different types of body armor and weapons. They were actively involved in planning and organizing the trip.
According to court documents, Nichols informed Harkrider in a text message that he and his father were constructing a gun container in their truck. He further added that he had obtained information suggesting that Washington could potentially turn into a warzone, with a high likelihood of an actual battle taking place.
In January, Harkrider was convicted on various charges, including civil disorder, obstruction of a civil proceeding, assault, resistance, and impeding officers using a dangerous weapon, as well as theft of government property.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, rioters have been facing charges since 2021, with individuals from every state being held accountable.
