California Man Sentenced To 12 1/2 Years Imprisonment And Pleads Guilty To Obstructive Conduct!

A California man involved in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has been sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison after pleading guilty to violent and obstructive conduct, CBS News reported.

California Man Sentenced To 12 1/2 Years Imprisonment And Pleads Guilty To Obstructive Conduct! (PHOTO: Yahoo News)

California Man Sentenced To 12 1/2 Years Imprisonment

Daniel “DJ” Rodriguez confessed to assaulting Michael Fanone, a former police officer from Washington, D.C., by deploying a Taser against him, resulting in his loss of consciousness. He also confessed to actively working to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.

As a component of his punishment, Rodriguez will be required to provide $96,000 to cover the expenses of Fanone’s medical care and an additional $2,000 as restitution for the damage caused to the Capitol.

Prosecutors highlighted Rodriguez’s role in organizing a group chat where he and a co-defendant discussed battles and operations in Washington, D.C. They emphasized that Rodriguez arrived in D.C. with the intention of causing violence, spurred by former President Donald Trump‘s rally and his tweet stating that the day would “be wild.” Judge Amy Berman Jackson condemned Rodriguez’s actions, calling him a “one-man army of hate” and emphasizing that such conduct would not be tolerated in the future.

While Rodriguez’s attorneys described him as remorseful, stating that he had written a letter to Fanone expressing his regret and admiration for law enforcement, Fanone walked out of the courtroom during Rodriguez’s address, refusing to listen. Rodriguez’s statement that “Trump won” prompted Fanone to reply that Rodriguez would have “13 years to think about it.”

Prosecutors argued that Rodriguez’s belief in the stolen 2020 election empowered him to plan an assault on those he perceived as responsible. In the group chat, he expressed a willingness to hang members of Congress.

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California Man Assaulted Officers

On the day of the assault, Rodriguez discharged a fire extinguisher at officers and attacked Fanone with a taser. He later entered the Capitol and attempted to break an office window.

The defense laid blame for Rodriguez’s conduct on Trump, claiming that he, like thousands of others, believed the former President’s lies and manipulation.

Prosecutors, however, argued that there was ample evidence to show that Rodriguez actively obstructed Congress’ work on that fateful day.

As the sentencing concluded, Rodriguez left the court proclaiming “Trump won,” while Fanone reminded him that he would spend years behind bars to contemplate his actions. The case serves as a reminder of the repercussions faced by those who engaged in violence during the Capitol riot.

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