Federal prosecutors argued that a North Carolina man should be sent to prison for almost five years as punishment for his crimes during the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Instead, a Washington, D.C., judge sent Matthew Wood home.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Wood, 25, to one year of home confinement and three years of probation — a clear rejection of the government’s recommended 57 months. Wood also must perform 100 hours of community service and pay $2,000 in restitution.
“I’m super grateful that we had a judge with such wisdom and compassion, who carefully considered all the evidence and arguments presented by both parties,” defense attorney Kira West told The Charlotte Observer after Mehta’s decision.
“I harbor no ill will toward the prosecutors. But they should not overreach in these cases and make the evidence something that it is not.”
Wood was among the thousands of supporters of defeated President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to stop congressional certification of Trump’s election defeat and keep Trump in power. Five deaths have been tied to the violence.
Wood pleaded guilty in May to a series of felony and misdemeanor charges tied to the riot.
His avoidance of active prison time, especially for a confessed felon, is somewhat rare. More than 900 arrests have been made to date in the sprawling Jan. 6 investigation. More than a third of the defendants (about 320) have been sentenced. Only 70 have received home detention.
“Five deaths have been tied to the violence.”
None of which were direct results of any protester violence, while one was murder by law enforcement. Tell the whole truth, Yahoo News, not just the parts that you want us to hear.
Jail Pelosi & Dc Mayor for Jan 06 !!!