Mocobizscene- A man from Minnesota who actively engaged in assaulting police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot, using a police baton as a weapon and unlawfully taking two riot shields, has been given a prison sentence of almost three years. Mock pleaded for leniency during the sentencing hearing, appealing to Chief Judge James Boasberg. In response, Mock was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
“I didn’t arrive in tactical gear with tasers and bear spray,” he explained. “It was a situation that I found myself caught up in.”
The judge determined that Mock had clearly anticipated violence on January 6th when coming to Washington, D.C.
Boasberg expressed his skepticism, stating that it is difficult to believe that one would simply be a bystander in such a situation.
Boasberg found Mock guilty of all 11 charges in his indictment, which included felony assault charges. The trial, held in July 2023, saw Mock taking the stand and representing himself.
The prosecution has suggested that Mock should receive a prison sentence of nine years and one month. It is important to note that he will receive credit for the time he has already spent in jail, which amounts to almost one year while awaiting trial.
Mock expressed that his time in jail had a profound impact on him emotionally. The judge acknowledged that the events of Jan. 6 had left a lasting mark on the officers whom Mock had attacked, describing it as a deeply traumatic experience for them.
“These moments were deeply impactful for both the individuals involved and for the nation,” Boasberg remarked.
In June 2021, Mock, a former debt collector and current owner of a landscaping company, was apprehended on charges related to the riot. It’s important to note that he was not charged specifically for entering the Capitol on January 6th.
Mock enlisted the company of his girlfriend and another friend to accompany him on a journey to Washington, D.C., for the “Stop the Steal” rally, organized by then-President Donald Trump, on January 6. Prior to embarking on this trip, Mock shared with his eldest son the possibility of perilous consequences, even death, at the event.
In a New York Times article, Mock became the subject of discussion as it delved into his connection with his eldest son. His remarks to the newspaper were used by prosecutors as proof of his absence of remorse and unwillingness to acknowledge his wrongdoing.
Prosecutors argued in a court filing that the Court cannot have any confidence that Mock would abstain from engaging in similar behavior in the future. They emphasized that if Mock believed it was justified or a necessary response to what he perceived as tyranny, he would likely repeat such actions.
According to defense attorney Michelle Peterson, Mock traveled to Washington with the belief that there were “irregularities” in the 2020 presidential election that warranted further investigation.
According to Peterson, the individual in question is not an ideologue but rather someone who holds strong beliefs that span across both ends of the political spectrum.
Following Mock’s arrest on charges related to the events of Jan. 6, his former girlfriend sought a restraining order against him. Prosecutors revealed that she took this step out of fear for her safety, as well as concerns about his behavior and potential actions following their breakup.
They wrote that Mock cannot assert that violence was limited to a specific period of his life or a particular set of relationships.
During the trial, the judge characterized some of Mock’s testimony as “silly.” One example was his assertion that his Facebook message on January 1, 2021, which read, “Well Nancy, that ain’t the worst thing that’s going to happen to you this week,” was referring to singer Nancy Sinatra instead of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Around 1,300 individuals have faced federal charges in connection with the Capitol attack. Out of these, more than 800 have already been sentenced, with about two-thirds of them being handed prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.
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