A Colorado man was handed a one-year prison sentence for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol siege, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. Avery MacCracken, 70, of Telluride, was also given 36 months of supervised release and must cough up $2,000 in restitution, according to the Department of Justice.
MacCracken, who had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing law enforce officers during a civil disorder, received his sentence on May 16 from U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon. The DOJ said he stormed the Capitol grounds as part of a larger group protesting the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. The Justice Department stated MacCracken confronted officers, at one point raising his fist as if to strike and grappling with another officer's arm and uniform.
Despite efforts by law enforcement to clear rioters, MacCracken reportedly stayed on scene until late afternoon, climbing atop the Inauguration bleachers and squaring off with police officers. According to court documents, he was eventually shoved off a platform by police as they worked to disperse rioters using tear gas and flash bangs.
The FBI arrested the Colorado native on Dec. 11, 2021, after identifying him as BOLO #387 among the agency's seek information photos. The investigation, involving the assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, continues, resulting in charges against more than 1,424 individuals in connection with the Capitol breach. "More than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony," reports the Justice Department.
