A Connecticut man will serve time in prison for repeatedly swinging a stick at police officers manning a tunnel at the US Capitol during the Jan. 6 protests while scaling protesters’ backs and shoulders.
According to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office, US District Judge Amit P. Mehta, who was appointed by Barack Obama, sentenced 38-year-old Richard Markey to 30 months in prison on Friday.
In August, Markey entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of using a deadly or dangerous weapon to assault officers.
Associated coverage:
Markey visited the Lower West Terrace Tunnel that day, which has witnessed some of the bloodiest assaults on law enforcement.
In order to reach the police line guarding the Tunnel that afternoon, he scaled rioting and began attacking officers.
Markey used a baton and then his fists to attack the police. In one instance, two cops were holding a police shield when Markey attacked and tugged on it.
Markey then regained the police shield, kicked it multiple times, and balanced himself atop the rioters.
When a cop attempted to drag him away with a stick, Markey screamed, “Oathbreaker!” and grabbed the rod, pointing it at the officer. Breach of the oath! You’re not carrying out your duties. Pay attention! For this fucking nation, I battled!
Markey then struck a police shield with the stick. He continued to attack the police officers by shouting at them, hitting, and pushing the shield with his hands until he broke the pole with the strikes and threw it away.
In July 2023, he was taken into custody.
Prosecutors stated in their sentencing document that the HVAC technician, who was released from the US Coast Guard in 2009 for substance-related misconduct, was especially violent on January 6.
According to the prosecution, Markey and a co-defendant’s criminal actions that day were a part of a large-scale riot that almost stopped the certification vote from happening, obstructing the orderly transfer of presidential power and plunging the US into a constitutional crisis.
The defendants’ actions were remarkable even among the other rioters who attacked the police there: the note claims that both of them practically climbed over other rioters to attack the police officers manning the entrance to the U.S. Capitol building.
Markey’s acts were judged by the prosecution to be more egregious than those of the other man.
According to the prosecution, he first attempted to use a baton to attack the cops and only stopped after one of them managed to physically disarm him and take the baton away.
Unfazed, Markey continued to attack officers using every weapon at his disposal, including yanking on their shields, kicking them fiercely with his feet, and finally hitting them with a pole until he broke it against their shield.
He accused the cops of breaking their oaths, but he persisted in screaming at them and threatening them.
In his sentencing memo, Markey’s lawyer, Jerry Ray Smith, claimed that there was no proof that Markey’s conduct had caused any injuries to any officers. He asked for 20 months in jail.
The attorney provided letters from friends and family confirming his good character as a kind, helpful, and generous family man.
Smith argues that even though Mr. Markey’s actions were unacceptable, the fact that he used the stick to strike the riot shield rather than hitting any officers directly supports a lighter sentence than would be fitting for a defendant who attempts to or actually does use a dangerous weapon to make direct contact with an officer.
He has always put up a lot of effort and made contributions to society. He is a model member of the community and a family man. In this instance, his behavior must be considered exceptional.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.