A Washington state man, who stormed the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, has been handed a hefty prison sentence of over seven years for his violent conduct, the Justice Department announced. Taylor James Johnatakis, a 40-year-old from Kingston, got smacked with 87 months behind bars and will also have to write a check for $2,000 in restitution.
The verdict came down from U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth after a jury in D.C. found the man guilty on multiple charges last November. Among the charges, Johnatakis faced three felonies including obstruction of an official proceeding, which could, in large part, explain the stiff sentence he received. The rioter was also convicted of civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, plus four additional misdemeanors related to his unlawful activities in the Capitol.
Prior engagements on social media suggested Johnatakis had plans to disrupt the election certification process, with his own words found splashed over the internet. "…and that’s why I am going to DC, to CHANGE the course of HISTORY #stopthesteal," he proclaimed on Jan. 5, 2021, followed by another post that stated: "[B]urn the city down. What the British did to DC will be nothing…"
The trip from the Pacific Northwest to Capitol Hill was not one of silent protest for Johnatakis. After participating in the "Stop the Steal" rally, he led a charged march towards the Capitol building. With a megaphone in hand, he egged on, the mob with intentions that seemed to anticipate violence. "Anyways, we’re walking over to the Capitol right now, and I don’t know, maybe we’ll break down the doors," he said in a video he shared on the web. When police lines buckled under the growing disorder, Johnatakis was at the forefront, pushing up the Southwest stairs and egging on, the riotous crowd as chaos unfolded.
For full details of Johnatakis' charges and the Justice Department's statement, visit their website.
