(IntegrityPress.org) – In a recent court ruling, Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas, a 41-year-old Ohio resident, received a prison sentence of four years and ten months behind bars for assaulting law enforcement officers during the infamous Capitol attack that took place on January 6, 2021. The Justice Department labeled Thomas as a “solo agent of misinformation,” given his active role in circulating falsities about the events of that day.
Thomas, hailing from East Liverpool, Ohio, had previously made online proclamations, stating that his conviction in June for four charges related to his attacks on officers was a “victory,” further inflating his actions on that fateful day according to prosecutors.
Court documents underscored Thomas’s lack of remorse, highlighting his pursuit of fame and notoriety following his involvement in the January 6 mob. Judge Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court in Washington enforced a $20,000 fine and $2,000 restitution in addition to his prison sentence.
Federal prosecutors initially sought a nine-year sentence for Thomas and emphasized his active role in spreading misinformation. He established his website and brand, creating a persona as a rioter, produced extensive content on the events of January 6, and continually propagated the allegedly false narrative that the events of the day were a “setup.”
Prosecutors argued that the only reliable way to safeguard the community from Thomas’s harmful actions and influence would be to remove him from society for an extended period. Thomas’s lawyer, Joseph R. Conte, despite the court’s decision, stated that his client, a U.S. Navy veteran, was “gravely conscious of the gravity of his actions” and “continues to accept complete accountability for his actions.”
In the wake of the Capitol riot, over 1,000 individuals from nearly every state have been apprehended and charged with related crimes, as per the Justice Department. While some expressed regret or shame for their participation in the attack, Thomas, prosecutors argued, did not fall within this group.
Thomas, they contended, seeks to downplay his actions on January 6 and, in some instances, glorify them, all while belittling the experiences of his victims. Court documents revealed that Thomas left his wife and daughter behind before joining a violent mob on the Capitol grounds, where he encouraged the crowd to “hold the line.”
According to the court records, Thomas assaulted several officers, expressing hostile sentiments towards the police and encouraging the mob. After the event, Thomas profited from his actions by appearing on several podcasts and webcasts, discussing his case and charges, and receiving over $77,000 in donations, prosecutors added.
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