A federal judge sentenced two Ohio men to 45 days behind bars Wednesday for their role in the Capitol riot, saying the two men had attempted to undermine one of the country’s “bedrock acts.”
Derek Jancart and Erik Rau appeared before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to be sentenced on one count each of disorderly conduct in a restricted building.
“Let me start by saying that all of the people charged with January 6 offenses are serious. All of these crimes are serious,” Boasberg said. “You attempted, with others, to undermine one of our country’s bedrock acts, which is the peaceful transfer of power.”
Both men pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor count in July after acknowledging they had been among hundreds of rioters who entered the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6.
While neither man was accused of assaulting police, Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Goemaat told Boasberg that Jancart had “endorsed and celebrated” the violence, noting that he posted a video on Facebook showing Rau yelling, “we have you surrounded” at beleaguered Capitol Police officers. Other rioters can be heard nearby yelling, “hang the traitors!”
Jancart was arrested in late February. Rau turned himself in to police following Jancart’s arrest.
The Justice Department asked Boasberg to sentence both men to 4 months in prison. Rau was still on probation on January 6 from a 2019 domestic violence conviction and Jancart, they pointed out, had repeatedly tried to downplay his role in the riot while also posting online that the point of January 6 was to “show politicians we can get this far any time we want.”
Both men will have until November 29 to report to federal authorities. Boasberg said he would recommend they be held in facilities near their homes in Ohio, if possible.
