Hollywood actor Jay Johnston is jailed for a year for his part in the US January 6 Capitol riots

American actor and comedian, Jay Johnston has been sentenced to a year and one day in prison for his connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Jay Johnston, who voiced the role of Jimmy Pesto in Bobs Burgers and played Officer Taylor on Arrested Development, pleaded guilty to a felony count of interfering with law enforcement during civil disorder in July. His attorney told a federal judge hes been blacklisted by Hollywood since the riot. The 56-year-old from Chicago was arrested in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in July to a felony offence of obstructing officers during a civil disorder.Its a humiliation and a horrible oversight, Johnston told U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols of his participation in the riot. Nichols, a Trump appointee, called Johnstons conduct on Jan. 6 problematic reprehensible, really and described the actors statement as less contrite than many other rioters remarks before being sentenced.Prosecutors said Johnston flew from Los Angeles to Washington the day before the riot, then marched to the Capitol after attending the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6. There, he used a stolen police riot shield to form a shield wall inside a tunnel against law enforcement and participated in a heave-ho push that pinned and crushed a police officer against a door frame, they said.The government argued Monday that, despite his guilty plea, Johnston failed to show remorse.Prosecutors pointed to an image of the actor dressed as QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley, a rioter sentenced to more than three years in prison, for Halloween in 2022.  An 18-month sentence reflects the gravity of Johnstons conduct, including his spread of disinformation about January 6th and his lack of remorse for participating in the riot, prosecutors wrote in the memo, seeking a prison sentence of a year and a half for Johnston.Johnston asked the judge for less than one year in prison, suggesting that prosecutors persistently overstated his role in the riot because hes an acclaimed Hollywood actor.At its core, the government has continued to advance Mr. Johnstons indictment on a guilty-by-association basis, in which it compounds the conduct of others in the proximity of Mr. Johnston with his alleged conduct, rather than maintaining focus on Mr. Johnstons individualized actions, Johnston attorney Stanley Woodward wrote in his sentencing memorandum.Johnston sought leniency from the judge, asserting that he has been unable to sustain his livelihood as an actor since joining the mob on Jan. 6. His attorney confirmed the actor was fired from Foxs Bobs Burgers after his presence at the Capitol was confirmed. Tim Johnston, Johnstons younger brother, told Nichols that he was completely shocked to learn that his brother participated in the Capitol attack. He urged the judge to weigh Johnstons guilty plea with the damage its done to his career, including the loss of his recurring Bobs Burgers role and a related movie, of which his character was subsequently written out. Hes closing the door by pleading guilty here, the younger Johnston said of his brothers acting career. Woodward said the actor, whose roles also included parts in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Mr. Show with Bob and David, has worked as a handyman for the last two years to support his family.Johnstons family told the judge that his 13-year-old daughter, who is autistic, has significant developmental issues and relies on his support. His fianc, Sara Radovanovitch, also said that neighborhood kids look to him as a mentor, often trailing him like the pied piper.Nichols sentenced Johnston to 40 hours of community service in addition to his prison term, which must be completed within a year of his release.He must also pay $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol. The post Hollywood actor Jay Johnston is jailed for a year for his part in the US January 6 Capitol riots appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.