QAnon Shaman Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison

Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon shaman” who grew to become one of many main faces of the January 6 Capitol Hill Riots, was sentenced to 41 months in jail after pleading responsible to civil dysfunction, obstruction of an official continuing, and disorderly conduct in a restricted constructing, according to The Daily Beast.

The prolonged sentence was reportedly meant to ship a message and set an instance for different January 6 rioters. Chansley’s ensemble of Viking garb, Nordic tattoos, and right-wing American iconography have extensively come to represent each the riots and QAnon writ massive.

“What you did was horrific, obstructing the functioning of the government,” U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth mentioned throughout the sentencing. “What you did was terrible. You made yourself the epitome of the riot.”

The 41-month sentence was barely lower than the 51 months sought by prosecutors. Chansley has remained in jail since his arrest in January.

In court docket, Al Watkins, the shaman’s protection lawyer, argued his shopper ought to obtain a considerably decrease sentence as a result of he had lately been identified with a schizotypal character dysfunction. As a part of the sentence, Chansley must undergo common drug testing and psychological well being remedy and pay $2,000 in restitution.

Chansley was one of many first rioters indicted by federal prosecutors following January 6. In a January filing following his arrest, prosecutors mentioned he was a outstanding participant and an lively image of a “violent insurrection that attempted to overthrow the United States Government.” Earlier within the yr Watkins, Chansley’s lawyer, tried to place the onus of blame for the assault on former President Donald Trump and said his shopper was merely listening to his phrases and obeying the orders of a president.

“They listened to those words,” Watkins mentioned. “And those words meant something to them. And they had a right to rely on the words of their president that was strewed forth worldwide.”

Chansley’s sentencing was reportedly inundated with references to Gandhi, Jesus, and even The Shawshank Redemption, as he tried to persuade the court docket of his regret.

“Men of honor admit when they’re wrong,” Chansley mentioned according to The Daily Beast. “I was wrong for entering the Capitol. I have no excuse, no excuse whatsoever.” Chansley denied being an insurrectionist and as an alternative described himself as “a good man who broke the law.”

“I look up to Gandhi. I look up to Jesus. I want to mirror them,” Chansley mentioned.”

The sentence size matches that of a previous verdict handed right down to a 44-year-old New Jersey health club proprietor earlier this month. So far, those are the 2 lengthiest of anybody concerned in Capitol Hill riots to this point.