A member of the Proud Boys who prevented the arrest of a fellow demonstrator at the U.S. Capitol, and wielded a wooden axe handle to threaten police officers who were shooting pepper balls at protesters, has been sentenced to more than four years behind bars.
‘Whose Streets? Our Streets’
Prosecutors said that Mr. Chrestman, identified as a second-degree member of the Proud Boys group, made plans with fellow members to travel to the nation’s capital to show support for President Donald Trump and protest Congress’s certification of the Electoral College vote.The group, including Mr. Chrestman, arrived in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 5, 2021, before heading to Washington.
On Jan. 6, Mr. Chrestman, wearing tactical gear and carrying a gas mask and wooden axe handle with a flag attached to it, joined a larger group of Proud Boys near the Washington Monument.
The group marched toward the U.S. Capitol, shouting slogans such as “Whose streets? Our streets.”
Confrontation With Law Enforcement
Prosecutors said Mr. Chrestman played a prominent role in the breach, encouraging demonstrators to move forward and breach the Capitol’s restricted grounds.While remaining unlawfully on the Capitol’s West Front for over an hour, Mr. Chrestman was at the front of the crowd for much of the time, encouraging others to move forward.
At one point, police fired pepper ball projectiles at specific agitators in the crowd who were physically engaging with law enforcement.
Court documents show that Mr. Chrestman then pointed at the officers who were firing the pepper balls, gestured with his axe handle, and verbally threatened them, saying, “Hey, if you shoot, I'll [expletive] take your [expletive] out.”
Obstruction and Altercation
Mr. Chrestman then entered the Capitol building and, along with other Proud Boys, reached the Crypt, per court documents.They took steps to prevent the closure of a large metal overhead door, allowing free movement for other demonstrators, with Mr. Chrestman using his axe handle to prop open the door.
In the Capitol Visitor Center, Mr. Chrestman intervened in an altercation between police officers and a rioter, preventing an arrest.
In the aftermath, Mr. Chrestman expressed pride in his actions, describing how he helped obstruct doors and intimidate law enforcement.
“The cops were legitimately scared for their [expletive] lives,” Mr. Chrestman would later say of his actions, per court documents.
Legal Consequences
Mr. Chrestman’s sentencing includes 55 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and a $2,000 restitution order.The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Mr. Chrestman’s case adds to the growing list of individuals facing legal consequences for their roles in the Capitol breach. More than 1,265 individuals so far have been charged across the country for actions related to the events of that day.
Former President Donald Trump has said on several occasions that he thinks some Jan. 6 detainees are being mistreated by the Biden administration and has vowed to issue pardons for many of them.
‘All Jan. 6 Perpetrators’ to Be Targeted
Meanwhile, the country’s top prosecutor has made clear that the DOJ under President Biden has no intention of letting Jan. 6 participants off easy—including those who weren’t even there that day.
Prosecutors have, to date, secured over 890 convictions in connection to the Jan. 6 incident, with Mr. Garland vowing to press ahead to cast the DOJ dragnet widely.
“Our work continues,” he said. “As I said before, the Justice Department will hold all January 6 perpetrators, at any level, accountable under the law—whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy.
“We are following the facts and the law where they lead.”
