The US District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday sentenced California resident David Nicholas Dempsey to 20 years imprisonment for attacking police during the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Dempsey faced charges of disruptive conduct in a restricted building, obstructing official proceedings, and assaulting police, which were brought against him on September 9, 2021. He ultimately entered a plea agreement on September 19, 2023, pleading guilty to two counts of assaulting police with dangerous weapons.
The actions for which Dempsey was prosecuted included using pepper spray and metal crutches to attack law enforcement officers. Notably, he injured one officer so severely that the officer feared losing consciousness and broke another officer’s gas mask with a crutch.
The prosecution’s sentencing memorandum highlighted Dempsey’s extensive criminal history, including previous offenses such as burglary, drug trafficking, and evasion of law enforcement. They initially recommended around 22 years imprisonment but acknowledged the court’s final decision of 20 years, followed by 36 months of supervised release.
According to AP News, more than 1,400 individuals have been charged in connection with the January 6 events, with over 900 convictions and sentences, most of which include jail terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.
You can read the full article and more details about the case on JURIST.