Connect with us

U.S. News

Man who testified at Jan. 6 hearing avoids imprisonment for Capitol riot

Published

on

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:


  • An Ohio man who testified at a Jan. 6 hearing avoided jail time when a federal judge sentenced him on Thursday to two years of probation for his role in the attack.
  • The judge said he believes Stephen Ayres has shown genuine remorse and regret for his conduct.
  • Ayres had apologized to police officers who tried to repel the mob, the court and the “American people.” for his role in the Capitol attack.

An Ohio man who testified at a hearing before the U.S. House committee that’s investigating Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack avoided jail time when a federal judge sentenced him to two years of probation on Thursday. for his role in the mob’s attack.

In July, after a public testimony at a congressional hearing, Stephen Ayres apologized to a group of police officers who tried to repel the mob of rioters during the insurrection.

Ayres also apologized to the court and the “American people.” U.S. District Judge John Bates sentenced him to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

The judge said he believes Ayres has been genuinely remorseful and regretful of his conduct, including with testimony for the House committee investigating the riot.

“It was a travesty in American history, a shocking attack on our democratic values and institutions,” the judge said. “All who participated in that insurrection, I think it can be called, must be held responsible.”

According to Ayres, he lost friends, family and a job after he participated in the Jan. 6 riot.

Prosecutors recommended sentencing Ayres to 60-day jail time, one year of supervised release and 60 hours of community service. Ayres’ lawyer, Eugene Ohm, asked for Ayres a sentence of probation without any jail time.

In June, Ayres pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. The 41-year-old wasn’t accused of engaging in any violence or damage to property.

Ayres’ friend, Matthew Perna, was also charged after he joined the riot in Washington, D.C. They attended the Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally and then joined the mob’s assault on the Capitol.

Perna pleaded guilty to riot-relayed charges in December but died in February before his scheduled sentencing in March. A filing notifying the court of Perna’s death doesn’t indicate a cause, but according to Ayres’ lawyer, Perna “took his own life largely because of the pressures of this case.”

Advertisement

Ayres posted this on Facebook before the riot.

“Mainstream media, social media, Democrat party, FISA courts, Chief Justice John Roberts, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, etc….all have committed TREASON against a sitting U.S. president! !! All are now put on notice by ‘We The People!’”

During a July 12 congressional hearing, Ayres said he felt like he had horse blinders on and that he felt as if Trump had called him to Washington that day.

Ayres told the Jan. 6 panel that he and others decided to leave the Capitol after Trump tweeted for his supporters to go home at about 4:17 p.m.

Source: Associated Press

Advertisement
11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Colby Goodson

    September 26, 2022 at 6:49 am

    Sorry, This was not an insurrection.

    • klyneal

      September 26, 2022 at 3:28 pm

      So true. Completely agree.

    • David R

      September 27, 2022 at 10:23 pm

      Think of the violence and murder promoted by the Dims in 2020 and 2021 as they “setup” for any relatively peaceful protest – so they could blame the Republicans for what THEY themselves did for over a year.

      Compare Hilary’s PROVEN abuse of secret documentation (by the thousands) to Trumps supposed offense.

      Whatever the Left says, remember it means the opposite.

  2. mike kerrigan

    September 26, 2022 at 7:55 am

    It start out “Once upon a time” – like all fairytales do…

  3. Michael Wynne

    September 26, 2022 at 9:44 am

    Perhaps those who are so quick to throw around terms like “insurrection” should be schooled or otherwise educated in the literal definition of the term! It might just make them more appreciative of the rights and liberties all should be able to enjoy under our blessed Constitution!

  4. Fred

    September 26, 2022 at 10:04 am

    A coerced so-called admission doesn’t make it true, just like calling Jan 6 an “insurrection” doesn’t make it one.

  5. Sanjosemike

    September 26, 2022 at 10:59 am

    He did what he had to do and undoubtedly what his attorneys advised. We have a two tiered justice system.

    Remember, during Soviet rule, psychiatrists “sentenced” protesters to asylums. It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

    A two-tiered justice system is not justice. And they know it. It is about power. It always has been.

    Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)

  6. Terry

    September 26, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    The only “ insurrection “ I’m aware of was committing by biden and his clown car of staff and the other obvious liars and cheats in the democrats party. Walking through a building that you were invited into by security and Capitol police as most there had done is far from a insurrection. This entire bs is a travesty of Justice committed against the poor people who are still political prisoners in the biden gulag.

  7. CPO Bill

    September 26, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Had to say ” I’m sorry” just for being somewhere! Gigantic Pile of adam schitt!

  8. GoVoteRed

    September 26, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Let’s see what will happen when the time comes to find the truth. There will be no biases and no corruption to one justice for all and no one is above the law.

  9. Gwyllim

    September 27, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    I haven’t heard on ONE person being arrested, jailed OR put on trial for the MANY, country-wide riots, property damage and assaults committed by the Lefty punks after Trump was elected in 2016…not ONE.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *