January 6 Defendant Gets 20 Years

The second longest sentence of any defendant associated with January 6 has been handed down.

David Nicholas Dempsey has finally learned his fate for the role he played in the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

Dempsey had been sentenced to two decades in prison, receiving the second longest sentence dished out to January 6 defendants.

Guilty as Charged

Dempsey had actually pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting police officers with a dangerous weapon.

The plea deal was made in January, and he surely had to think that it would result in a much lesser sentence.

However, as we have seen in these cases, examples are being made, especially with the temperature surrounding the current election.

The 20-year sentence is second only to the sentence given to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who received 22 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Dempsey was among the most violent offenders that day, reportedly stomping on police officers and using makeshift weapons to attack them.

Some examples given were crutches, pepper spray, and broken furniture.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, told Dempsey, "Your conduct on Jan. 6 was exceptionally egregious. You did not get carried away in the moment."

Dempsey has since apologized for his actions that day, telling the judge that his conduct was “reprehensible.”

He also told the police officers whom he attacked, "You were performing your duties, and I responded with hostility and violence.”

Prosecutors wanted a 21-year sentence, while Dempsey’s team requested 78 months.

After the sentence was handed down, Dempsey’s attorney, Amy Collins, stated, "It makes him a statistic. It doesn’t consider the person he is, how much he has grown."

My fear now is that after this election, regardless of who wins, January 6 will look like a family picnic that went wrong.

I have a feeling that no matter who wins, the other side will explode with anger and violence that will be taken to our streets and this will not be something we see settle down in a few days or weeks.