Former Police Officer Gets Seven-Plus Years For Jan. 6 Riot, Tying Longest Sentence

A former Virginia police officer was sentenced Thursday to more than seven years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, tying for the longest sentence served to a participant.

Former police officer Thomas Robertson entered the U.S. Capitol building while wielding a large wooden stick, accordingto a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) release about the sentence. He is now tied with militia recruiter Guy Reffitt for receiving the longest sentence served to a participant in the Jan. 6 riots.

Robertson was convicted in April for obstructing Congress during its meeting to certify the 2020 presidential election results, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a dangerous weapon disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building while carrying a dangerous weapon, and tampering with a document or proceedings, the DOJ said.

He owes $2,000 in restitution and will be supervised for three years after his release.

“Thomas Robertson, despite swearing an oath of office when he became a police officer, joined the violent mob at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and did so while armed,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves in a statement. “Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his role in the violence that day.”

Reffitt, a recruiter for anti-government Three Percenters militia, was sentenced to seven years in prison in August. He was found guilty in March for obstruction of Congress, interfering with police in a riot, transporting a firearm for that purpose, armed trespassing and witness tampering, The Washington Post reported.

Prosecutors tired to get him imprisoned for 15 years, applying a terrorism sentencing penalty.

Robertson’s co-defendant and fellow former officer Jacob Fracker, who pleaded guilty in March to a federal conspiracy charge, will be sentenced on Aug. 16, the DOJ said.

Over 860 individuals have been arrested for participation in the Capitol riots so far.