Judge tells Capitol rioter supervision is necessary to protect democracy from ‘people like you’

WASHINGTON (CN) — A federal judge imposed a prison sentence plus house arrest and probation on a Tennessee man who stormed the Capitol, saying the government wants to keep an eye on people like him as the 2024 presidential election approaches.

U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl Howell spoke at the Thursday hearing about the “conundrum” many sentencing judges are facing as they decide how to sentence a nonviolent Capitol riot defendant like Blake Reed, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building.

There’s a trade-off in punishment, she said, with jail time on one hand or longer supervision on the other. At the same time, some sentencing judges at the federal courthouse in Washington believe a period of supervision of at least three years is necessary to help prevent another insurrection. Howell toed that line and sentenced Reed to three years of probation, including 42 days of intermittent confinement and three months of home detention.

“It’s to protect our democracy from other people like you … engaging in the same political violence that shook our country,” she told Reed, adding that it is “imperative” that a siege on the Capitol never happens again.

Reed and four others were indicted together two days after the riot. He took a plea deal in November in exchange for the more serious charges against him to be dropped, including obstruction and disorderly conduct. The government sought a sentence of three months in jail and one year of supervised release, while Reed suggested probation.

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, Howell brought up that, prior to the insurrection, Reed had said he did not believe Joe Biden had legitimately won the presidential election. The chief judge, an Obama appointee, asked Reed if he still believes that.

“No, your honor, as of right now, the president of the United States is Joe Biden,” Reed said.

The 36-year-old also apologized for his actions, telling the judge he was “caught up that day” and had “no malicious intent.”

But the judge told Reed the 24 minutes he spent inside the Capitol was a “significant” amount of time and that he “covered a lot of ground” 

“You did more than rioters who briefly walked into the building,” she said, adding that Reed preplanned for violence because he brought a gas mask and ski goggles that he wore during the insurrection. 

Howell also noted that Reed took a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with the government. But prosecutors say he turned over two phones, one of which was wiped of any evidence and the other is locked and officials are still trying to access it.

Given his college education, employment history, and supportive letters from friends and family, the judge said it was “hard to reconcile” with what he did.

Also on Monday at the federal courthouse, a California man who told FBI agents he was “escorted” into the Capitol during the riot by police was sentenced to 24 months of probation and 60 hours of community service.

Jacob Lewis, 38, took a plea deal in January and admitted to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He also vowed to cooperate with the government and prosecutors agreed to dismiss the three other charges against him.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper told prosecutors during the sentencing hearing that Lewis’ actions during the seven minutes he spent inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 did not warrant the one year of jail they sought. 

The Obama appointee noted that Lewis was not one of the first rioters to breach the building; he did not cause any violence or property destruction; and in the aftermath, he did not “trumpet” his actions on social media like many others.

“You seem like a reasonable person,” Cooper told Lewis. “I hope that you are genuine when you say you won’t do anything like this again.”

Follow @EmilyZantowNews

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