The first person tried on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol was resentenced on Dec. 7 to a slightly reduced sentence in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Guy Reffitt of Texas was sentenced in Washington by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich to 80 months in prison, down from 87 months.
“While we are happy the judge rejected the government’s request to impose the same sentence, we were disappointed that the judge to not reduce the sentence further,“ Clint Broden, a lawyer representing Reffitt, told The Epoch Times in an email. ”It must be kept in mind that Mr. Reffitt, unlike many other January 6 defendants, did not go into the Capitol building, he did not damage any property and he did not physically assault any of the police officers.”
The sentencing range, to which judges typically adhere, was originally 87 months to 108 months. After the felony charge was vacated, the range went down to between 41 months and 51 months.
Reffitt in the courtroom on Friday said that he took part in the Capitol breach because he was “in my feelings” and upset about the “lies and the craziness” that he perceived.
“I was not there to take over no government,” Reffitt said. “I love this country.”
Friedrich responded: “No one has a problem with your feelings. It’s the actions you took with your feelings.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler, representing the government, said during the hearing that Reffitt wanted “to overtake Congress, physically and with violence.”
Reffitt while on Capitol grounds carried zip ties in addition to a holstered handgun. Prosecutors said that Reffitt had a gun and threatened to use it before arriving at the Capitol, while defense lawyers highlighted how the defendant did not remove the gun from the holster or assault law enforcement officers.
Likewise, prosecutors said that after Jan. 6, Reffitt told his children not to turn him in to authorities, saying in part that “traitors get shot,” while defense lawyers said Reffitt “never gave any indication he would actually harm his children.”
Reffitt’s daughters and wife were among those who penned letters to the court ahead of the resentencing, asking for mercy. Reffitt’s son, who has spoken out about the threats, did not write a letter.
