Friday’s sentence was for a former chief executive officer of a Chicago tech company who lost his job when he threw an office chair into the U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 riot.
Court records indicate that U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ordered Bradley Rukstales of Inverness (Illinois) to pay $500 in restitution.
Rukstales had previously admitted that he stormed Capitol and threw a chair at officers who were forced to retreat from rioters. Officers then had to drag Rukstales away from the scene after he refused permission to be lifted from the ground.
Although they claimed that the officers were not in danger from being struck by the chair, prosecutors stated that Rukstales’ inability to comply with the rules contributed to chaos at the Capitol.
After his involvement in the riot was made public, Rukstales was removed as CEO of Cogensia. He also sold shares in the firm.
Rukstales made a public apology on the day following the riot. He issued a statement Friday night apologizing for his actions.
Rukstales stated, “I have come across the weight of the actions I took and deeply regret following others into Capitol.”
His lawyer argued that his client was not violent at the Capitol.
A Montana man brought his 10-year old son, who was from Montana, to Washington for Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally. He was sentenced for joining the mob storming the Capitol.
Boyd Camper was told by Judge Colleen Kollar Kotelly that his presence in the mob had “helped create momentum for violence” as well as provided safety for violent protesters, even though he didn’t personally attack law enforcement officers.
Camper arrived at Capitol with his son, but before entering, he asked one of his Montana friends to stay behind him, as he was concerned about clashes between police officers and rioters.
Camper pleaded guilty in court to the charge of parading inside the Capitol Building, a misdemeanor that can lead to up six months imprisonment. He can report to prison in January, according to the judge.
Camper, a former real estate agent, stated that he had moved to another community following the Jan. 6riot. He was rejected by his neighbors and fired from two of his employers.
Sean Cordon was another rioter who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one month probation. He was also ordered to pay $500 restitution and a $4,000 fine.
Judge Trevor McFadden stated that Cordon, a Californian resident, arrived at the Capitol wearing a gas mask, body armor and a gas mask. He didn’t seem to be a mere bystander who was caught up in the riot. However, Cordon left the Capitol four minutes later and didn’t attack anyone or break anything.
McFadden said that he was entitled to credit for getting out of the riot so quickly. McFadden stated that McFadden “participated at a shameful, national embarrassment that made us all feel less secure.”
Authorities said that an Alabama man, who admitted to parking a pickup truck with guns, Molotov cocktails, and other weapons less then a mile from Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, pleaded guilty Friday to firearms charges.
Authorities claim Lonnie Leroy Coffman’s truck contained loaded guns, several hundred rounds of ammunition, and machetes. Other Molotov cocktails were found later in a search of Coffman’s Falkville, Alabama home.
Over 650 people were charged with federal crimes in connection to Jan. 6th riot. More than 100 of them were accused of assaulting police officers. More than 120 defendants pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, which carry a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment. As of Friday, 35 defendants had been sentenced.
