Florida Man Birthday July 19

A Florida man becomes the first U.S. Capitol rebel to receive a prison sentence.

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – A Florida man becomes the first person convicted and sentenced for the US Capitol riot.

Paul Allard Hodgkins was sentenced to eight months in prison by a judge on Monday. Hodgkins’ sentence was the first sentence for the January 6 Capitol riots and is expected to guide the determination of other sentences.

BASE. District Judge Randolph Moss said Hodgkins was involved in one of the worst times in US history. The Capitol Revolt was waged by supporters of Donald Trump and turned into public violence that overshadowed Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

“This was no ordinary protest,” Moss said. “It was an attack on democracy and left a stain on US history for years to come.”

Moss said the sentence for Hodgkins would affect decisions in pending cases. Due to the uniqueness of the case and the inability to see past sentences as a criterion, it became more difficult to impose an appropriate sentence.

In the events of the Capitol Rebellion, more than 500 people were blamed for participating in the revolt. However, many people were not charged in connection with larger crimes. Defendants will have to decide whether to plead guilty or stand trial.

Moss interrupted Hodgkins’ attorney, Patrick Leduc, and asked if Hodgkins’ defense could encourage people who would not like the upcoming election results to revolt in the Capitol.

“How do we protect our democracy if we let people attack the Capitol,” Moss said.

Hodgkins said he didn’t attack anyone during the Capitol Riots, didn’t damage government property, and because he wasn’t among the leading aggressors, his sentence was less than 18 months.

Hodgkins apologized to the court and said he was embarrassed. He said that after the election he saw hundreds of people on Washington’s most famous street, and he was enthused by the crowd. “If I had predicted that the protest would turn into such a riot, I would never have participated. I wouldn’t dare go any farther than the pavement on Pennsylvania Avenue. “This must be the stupidest decision I’ve ever made in my life.”

Hodgkins was convicted last month of participating in an attack that caused lawmakers to intimidate and hide out of fear. A total of 5 people, including a police officer, were killed in the riot. After the riot, two police officers committed suicide.

During the hearing in Washington, the U.S. Attorney Mona Sedky likened the rebellion to “domestic terrorism”.

Hodgkins’ lawyer, Leduc, found the government’s statement excessive. Leduc said, “I think the country is being lit with gas. What happened was a protest that turned into a riot.”

Moss said some Trump supporters are tracking down lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He pointed out that the events were more than a riot, saying that there were people walking in the corridors of the Capitol asking, “Where is Nancy?”

Sedky said that although Hodgkins did not resort to violence, he walked among the many perpetrators, and could see the chaos ahead of him as he walked through the teardrop smoke between the shattered police barricades. She also said that she didn’t go away at this time.

Hodgkins added that he was in the middle of a crowd that frightened lawmakers and forced them to hide in their offices. Those who lived that day will experience emotional moments throughout their lives, she said.

Under the plea deal in June, Hodgkins pleaded guilty and agreed to pay the Treasury Department $2,000 in damages. In response to Hodgkins’ actions, prosecutors have agreed to drop him on lesser offenses such as trespassing and misbehaving. They also said the sentence would be reduced because it spared the government a costly trial and accepted responsibility.

Leduc described his client as a law-abiding US citizen who volunteered to live in his hometown of Tampa and the food bank there. He stated that Hodgkins was an Eagle Scout.

Leduc described the January 6 protest as “the story of a man who was disoriented for an hour and made a fateful decision by following the crowd”.

Judge Moss said he had no foresight about Hodgkins and admitted that he had no malicious intent. He said Hodgkins brought with him safety glasses and rope, and what he brought with him showed that he was ready to do anything.

The resulting video footage shows Hodgkins wearing a Trump 2020 T-shirt, his flag hanging from his shoulder, and entering the Senate while wearing glasses. Hodgkins also took selfies with demonstrators dressed in horns and helmets, who identify as shamans.

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