WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A former Virginia police sergeant who joined Donald Trump’s supporters in storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison yesterday, a Justice Department spokesperson said.
A jury in April convicted Thomas Robertson, a former police sergeant for the town of Rocky Mount, Virginia, of six criminal charges, including obstructing an official proceeding and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to sentence Robertson to eight years – the longest amount yet for any Capitol riot defendant – on the grounds that Robertson abused his position of trust as a law enforcement officer.
Both Robertson and Guy Reffitt, an associate of the far-right Three Percenters militia who also received a sentence of seven years and three months earlier this month, are now tied for the longest sentence to date for any Capitol riot defendant
Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, in an attempt to overturn his election defeat, which Trump falsely claims was the result of fraud.
Robertson’s defense attorney had asked for a sentence of no more than 15 months.
He has been in detention since last year, after the judge found he violated court orders and continued to purchase what prosecutors described as an “arsenal” of guns online. FBI agents also found a loaded M4 rifle and a partially assembled pipe bomb at his home during a search.
Robertson’s trial featured testimony from Jacob Fracker, who had reported to Robertson on the police force, who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with Robertson where they took selfies together.
Prosecutors said Robertson later destroyed the cell phones they had used that day.
