(LibertySociety.com) – Several court cases from charges that resulted from the events of January 6th, 2021, have been adjudicated over the last several weeks. One of these is the case of Richard Barnett, an Arkansas resident who was photographed sitting at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk. Barnett had one foot on her desk and a big smile on his face as photographers snapped his picture. Now the 62-year-old will spend 4.5 years in prison for his actions, along with 3 years of supervised probation.
Prosecutors for Barnett’s case were hoping for a 7-year prison term and supervised probation for 3 years after release. Barnett, who has been active on Twitter advocating for his innocence since the incident occurred, claimed in court that he was trying to find a restroom to use when he inadvertently found then-Speaker Pelosi’s office. He ran into some photographers, who offered to take his picture, claiming that they told him to “act natural,” so that’s why he decided to sit in her chair and pose for a photo. Barnett also claimed that he was “just in the moment” when his attorney questioned him during the trial about his knowledge of the consequences of what he was doing at the time.
Barnett left a note for the Speaker, also announcing what he had done to the crowd of people outside after leaving the building. In addition, he was accused of having a stun gun in his possession while at the Capitol. According to a Fox News report, he says he regrets going to D.C. to the rally.
Another prominent sentencing was handed down recently, with Stuart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, being sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy. Two other members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced shortly after Rhodes, with one serving 4 years in prison and the other sentenced to 8.5 years.
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