A Maryland man who initially described himself as an “accidental tourist” has been sentenced to three months over his participation in the January U.S. Capitol riot.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan said he hopes his sentencing of Robert Reeder sends a message to those who are not “truly accepting responsibility” for their actions that day, after Reeder was caught on camera grabbing a police officer, according to WUSA.
“I’m radioactive,” Reeder said. “No one wants to hire me. They just have to Google my name.”
While prosecutors wanted Reeder to serve six months after a video found by online detectives Sedition Hunters featured what prosecutors called an attack on an officer, the judge believed Reeder was sorry. Prosecutors decided not to file new charges over the clip.
“It’s become evident to me that many of the defendants pleading guilty do not truly accept responsibility. They seem, to me, to be trying to get this out of the way as quickly as possible, stating whatever they have to say … but not changing their attitude,” Hogan said, according to WCAX.
Reeder also has to pay $500 in restitution. Judge Hogan allowed him to self-report to authorities to start his sentence but failing to do so could earn him 5 years in jail. Now, more than 630 people have been charged in the violent insurrection. Four officers who were present during the incident have since died by
A Maryland man who initially described himself as an “accidental tourist” has been sentenced to three months over his participation in the January U.S. Capitol riot.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan said he hopes his sentencing of Robert Reeder sends a message to those who are not “truly accepting responsibility” for their actions that day, after Reeder was caught on camera grabbing a police officer, according to WUSA.
“I’m radioactive,” Reeder said. “No one wants to hire me. They just have to Google my name.”
While prosecutors wanted Reeder to serve six months after a video found by online detectives Sedition Hunters featured what prosecutors called an attack on an officer, the judge believed Reeder was sorry. Prosecutors decided not to file new charges over the clip.
“It’s become evident to me that many of the defendants pleading guilty do not truly accept responsibility. They seem, to me, to be trying to get this out of the way as quickly as possible, stating whatever they have to say … but not changing their attitude,” Hogan said, according to WCAX.
Reeder also has to pay $500 in restitution. Judge Hogan allowed him to self-report to authorities to start his sentence but failing to do so could earn him 5 years in jail. Now, more than 630 people have been charged in the violent insurrection. Four officers who were present during the incident have since died by suicide.
