Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer was sentenced on Friday (October twenty fifth) for his function within the rebel on the Capitol constructing in Washington D.C., on January sixth, 2021. The veteran steel musician will serve three years’ probation after cooperating with the US Justice Division’s investigation into the notorious riot.
As a member of the Oath Keepers, Schaffer was on the entrance of a mob that broke open the doorways on the west aspect of the Capitol, as they chased law enforcement officials into the constructing. The guitarist, who was armed with bear spray and sporting a tactical vest, exited the constructing after being sprayed with a chemical irritant.
Eleven days after the rebel, Schaffer grew to become the primary rioter to show himself in to authorities, and three months later grew to become the primary one to plead responsible for his involvement. Particularly, he pleaded responsible to 2 felony counts of obstruction of an official continuing and coming into a restricted constructing with a harmful weapon.
Schaffer was initially dealing with 3.5 to 4.5 years in jail however his sentence was delayed as a consequence of his willingness to cooperate with the US Justice Division.
Final week, federal prosecutors really helpful a lowered sentence for Shaffer, with Assistant US Legal professional Kathryn Rakoczy writing in a letter to the decide, “To be the primary individual to plead responsible, and to take action pursuant to a public cooperation plea settlement, in a case that has garnered such nationwide curiosity and, sadly, controversy, took braveness on Schaffer’s half.”
She continued, “Whereas the federal government will not be conscious of any direct threats to Schaffer or his household, different people who cooperated publicly with the federal government on this investigation have acquired such threats. Thus, this court docket ought to give Schaffer credit score for the hazard and danger of damage to himself and to his household that resulted from his entry right into a public cooperation plea settlement on this case.”
As CBS affiliate WUSA9 reported, US District Decide Amit P. Mehta appeared to agree with the advice, sentencing Shaffer on Friday to 3 years of supervised launch and $1,000 in restitution. “I definitely thought that your instance would trigger others to return ahead and admit what they’d achieved and cooperate,” Mehta instructed Schaffer on the sentencing. “That didn’t actually occur.”