‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor sentenced to 1 year in prison for role in Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The actor known for his roles in television comedies “Bob’s Burgers” and “Arrested Development” was sentenced Monday to a year in prison for his role on the series. Mafia attack on the US Capitol almost four years ago.

Jay Johnston, 56, of Los Angeles, joined other rioters in a “forcible” attack against police officers guarding the tunnel entrance to the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Prosecutors said Johnston was making jokes and interacting with other rioters as he used a cellphone to record the violence around him.

Johnston expressed regret at “making the police’s job harder” on January 6. He said he never expected there would be a riot that day.

“I believe it was due to my ignorance,” he told U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. “If I had been more political, maybe I could have seen this coming.”

The judge sentenced Johnston to 1 year and 1 day in prison and allowed him to be released after the hearing and sent to prison on a date to be determined. Nichols said Johnston was aware he would miss the opportunity to care for his 13-year-old autistic daughter while behind bars.

“But his behavior on January 6 was quite problematic. It is truly reprehensible,” the judge said.

Johnston He pleaded guilty in July Interfering with police officers during civil disorder is a crime punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.

Prosecutors recommended that Johnston be sentenced to 18 months in prison. The sentencing notes include a smiling photo of Johnston dressed as follows: Jacob ChansleyA spear-carrying Capitol rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman” at a Halloween party nearly two years after the siege.

“He thinks it’s a joke that he’s participating in one of the most serious crimes against our democracy.” prosecutors wrote.

Johnston played pizzeria owner Jimmy Pesto Sr. on “Bob’s Burgers,” a police officer on “Arrested Development” and a street-fighting newsman in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” Johnston also wrote “Mr. Show with Bob and David is an HBO sketch comedy series starring Bob Odenkirk and David Cross.

A Chicago native, Johnston moved to Los Angeles in 1993. acting career. Following the riot, Johnston was fired by the “Bob’s Burgers” creator, lost a role in a movie based on the series and was “essentially blacklisted” in Hollywood, defense attorney Stanley Woodward said.

“Instead, Mr. Johnston has worked as a handyman for the past two years, a conspicuous departure from his primary expertise and livelihood in film and television.” Woodward wrote.

Woodward accused the government of exaggerating Johnston’s involvement in the riots because he was a highly acclaimed Hollywood actor.

Before marching to the Capitol, Johnston attended then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6. He scaled a stone wall using a metal bicycle rack to reach the Capitol’s West Plaza before heading to the mouth of the tunnel entrance that police were guarding on the Lower West Terrace.

“While under the arch, he turned and waved at other rioters, urging them to join him in fighting the police,” prosecutors wrote.

Entering the tunnel, Johnston helped other rebels clear chemical irritants from their eyes. Another rioter gave him a stolen police shield, and he passed it near the police line. Prosecutors said Johnston then joined other rioters in a “swift” attack on police in the tunnel, a collective effort that crushed an officer by slamming him into a door frame.

“We’re going to get those light bulbs fixed!” Johnston said as rioters pushed an orange ladder toward police in the tunnel. He noted that he was joking.

A day after the riot, Johnston admitted in a text message to an acquaintance that he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“The news presented this as an attack. Actually it wasn’t. I thought it kind of turned into that. It was a complete mess,” Johnston wrote.

FBI agents seized Johnston’s cell phone while searching his California home in June 2021.

More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. More than 1,000 rebels were convicted and sentenced. Approximately 650 were sentenced to prison terms ranging from a few days to several days. 22 years.