A Kentucky man, who participated in the U.S. Capitol storming with a Confederate battle flag, has been sentenced to over two years in prison. During the January 6, 2021, riot, he pepper sprayed two police officers in the face, causing partial blindness for several hours.
Chief Judge James Boasberg justified the shorter prison sentence of two years and six months for Easterday by highlighting his young age. This decision deviated significantly from the Justice Department’s original recommendation, which sought a much lengthier term.
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According to the judge, Easterday, who received homeschooling from his mother while residing on a family farm, might not have completely understood the events that occurred at the Capitol on January 6th or realized the significance of the Confederate flag as a symbol of rebellion.
“According to Boasberg, the events of January 6th were a clear indication of an attempt to forcibly replace the individual chosen by the country through democratic means. The presence of the mob stemmed from their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the election, as they had failed to achieve their desired results through the ballot box.”
“I promise you, Your Honor, that I will not disappoint,” Easterday assured the judge upon hearing his sentence.
During the hearing, the prosecutors initially recommended a prison sentence of 12 years and seven months for Easterday. However, one of the prosecutors argued for a lower sentence of 11 years and three months, taking into account the court’s revised calculation of the sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutors have emphasized the need to impose a sentence on Easterday that will serve as a deterrent not only to him but also to others who may be tempted to follow the same path. As the 2024 presidential election draws near, and with the persistent presence of divisive voices in the media and online, there is a looming concern of a potential recurrence of the events that took place on January 6. In their court filing, prosecutors stress the importance of taking decisive action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Easterday was convicted by a jury in October on nine counts, which included charges of assaulting Capitol police officers Joshua Pollitt and Miguel Acevedo. He used pepper spray that he obtained from other rioters.
Easterday made the journey from his residence in Bonnieville, Kentucky, all the way to Washington, D.C., to participate in the “Stop the Steal” rally organized by then-President Donald Trump near the White House on January 6th. During the event, a photograph was taken of Easterday as he scaled a tree near the rally location, proudly displaying a Confederate battle flag.
Pollitt collapsed in the midst of the mob after Easterday sprayed his face, causing him to lose consciousness.
“After Officer Pollitt regained consciousness, he was overwhelmed with fear at the realization of his vulnerability,” stated prosecutors. “He endured hours of excruciating pain and loss of vision.”
In the video, Easterday can be seen smirking moments before he sprays Acevedo.
According to prosecutors, Easterday’s smirk while deploying the second cannister after seeing the impact it had on Officer Pollitt reflects his lack of empathy towards others and his apparent enjoyment of violence.
Pollitt entered the Capitol building, pulling along other rioters with him. He remained inside the building for approximately 13 minutes.
In December 2022, Easterday, who is now 23 years old, was arrested in Miami. At the time, his boat was docked there for a missionary trip aimed at providing free bibles to churches in the Bahamas.
According to prosecutors, the Confederate flag represents “treason, defiance of the law, and insurrection.” However, Easterday’s lawyers argue that he has lived a sheltered life on his family’s Amish farm in rural Kentucky and may not have fully comprehended the significance of the flag.
According to court documents, Isreal, unlike other defendants who expressed their support for former President Trump and promoted violent rhetoric on social media platforms, embarked on this trip as a means to break away from his usual routine on the family farm. Prior to this, Isreal had never ventured far from home, only doing so when he reached his late teens.
During the January 6 attack, over 100 police officers sustained injuries. Federal charges related to the Capitol riot have been filed against more than 1,350 individuals. Out of these, approximately 800 have already been sentenced, with about two-thirds receiving prison terms that range from a few days to 22 years.
