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Erik Scott Warner, 48, of Menifee, was sentenced to 2 years, 3 months; Felipe Antonio Martinez, 50, of Lake Elsinore, was sentenced to 1 yr, 9 months; Derek Kinnison, 42, of Lake Elsinore, was sentenced to 2 years, 9 months; and Ronald Mele, 54, of Temecula, was sentenced to 2 years, 9 months.
Additionally, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered every to pay $2,000 restitution and full 36 months of supervised launch for his or her roles in disrupting Congress because it licensed Joe Biden’s electoral victory within the 2020 presidential election. All 4 have been taken into custody.
The males, who prosecutors say have been linked to the Three Percenters militia motion, all have been convicted of conspiracy to hinder an official continuing and obstruction of an official continuing, each felonies, after a 17-day jury trial. Warner and Kinnison have been additionally convicted of tampering with paperwork or information, a felony. And all 4 have been discovered responsible of misdemeanor offenses of coming into and remaining in a restricted constructing or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted constructing or grounds.
Only Warner was accused of coming into the Capitol constructing.
The Three Percenters has been described as an anti-government, extremist motion. Members examine themselves to American patriots who opposed the British throughout the revolution.
Nicolai Cocis, the legal professional for Kinnison, stated in an interview Friday that the federal government had sought a sentence of 8 years and a $48,000 effective for his shopper.
“The judge acknowledged that not each person who was on the Capitol on January the sixth is unhealthy and that he sees some potential and that he decided that Kinnison has rehabilitated himself,” Cocis stated. “The judge agreed with the protection that the sentence the federal government was asking for was a harsh sentence and inappropriate given their involvement.”
He added that each one 4 males accepted duty for his or her actions and didn’t decrease their conduct.
“None of them have been pleased with their conduct,” Cocis stated.
The males have been charged in the identical indictment as former La Habra Police Chief Alan Hostetter, who was sentenced in December 2023 to 11 years in jail. Hostetter used a bullhorn to cheer on the members of the gang who have been preventing to interrupt by means of the police line on the Capitol. He was convicted of conspiracy, obstructing an official continuing and illegal entry on a restricted constructing or grounds.
On Jan. 6, the boys went to the Ellipse for the rally and afterward headed towards the Capitol. As they approached the Capitol at roughly 2 p.m., federal officers stated, Kinnison introduced, “This is the storm of the Capitol.” Warner then joined protesters climbing the northwest stairs to the Upper West Terrace, the place police had been defending moments earlier.
At the identical time, Martinez, Kinnison, and Mele superior on a police line. Mele known as out for the gang to “Push! Push! Push!” because the officers on the garden have been surrounded, a Department of Justice information launch stated.
Warner then entered the Capitol by means of a smashed window. When Martinez, Kinnison, and Mele heard by telephone that Warner had entered the Capitol, they ascended to the Upper West Terrace to affix him, the indictment stated.
As they climbed the steps, Mele shot a selfie-style video, through which he proclaims, “Storm the Capitol!” the discharge stated.
The others then surged on the Capitol carrying tactical gear and carrying cans of bear spray, the discharge stated.
More than 1,387 folks have been charged with crimes associated to the Capitol breach, the U.S. Department of Justice stated.
List: Southern California residents accused or convicted within the Capitol rebel
