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News -- April 24, 2024: On Tuesday, a man from North Carolina was sentenced for attacking law officers and other offenses pertaining to his actions on January 6, 2021,
when he broke into the U.S. Capitol. A joint session of the US Congress was called to determine and count the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election, but his actions and those of others caused disruptions.
U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols sentenced 30-year-old, Sanford, North Carolina resident David Joseph Gietzen to 72 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
One count of civil disorder and aiding and abetting, two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon, one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, one count of disruptive and disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon were among the seven felonies that a federal jury found Gietzen guilty of on August 31, 2023.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia:
According to court documents, Gietzen traveled from their home in North Carolina to Washington, D.C., to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally held on January 6, 2021, near the Ellipse. Following the rally, Gietzen marched to the Capitol to further protest and express his anger about the results of the 2020 Presidential election.
Sometime before 2:00 p.m., Gietzen entered the Capitol's restricted grounds on the west side and made his way to the West Plaza. Here, officers from the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) formed a defensive line using bike racks just below the inaugural stage. Gietzen, outfitted in a helmet, goggles, and knee pads, moved to the front of the crowd of rioters where he faced off with police.
Court documents say that Gietzen ignored commands to leave the grounds and instead, at 2:13-2:15 p.m., pushed against the police line and assaulted officers by pushing and pulling against their bodies and shields. After this assault, Gietzen stayed at the front of the crowd, yelling "f— disgrace" at officers and chanting "We Want Trump!"
At 2:28 p.m., Gietzen again began assaulting USCP and MPD officers as part of a larger group effort to overrun officers on the West Plaza. This effort was successful, and as the line of officers fell. Gietzen assaulted one officer by shoving the officer and grabbing the face mask of another. At 2:31 p.m., as officers retreated, Gietzen followed, moving toward the Capitol building and assaulting an officer by jabbing the officer twice with a long pole. Gietzen was able to strike the officer in the gaps in their protective gear near the armpit area. Gietzen then embedded himself in the mob of rioters pushing and obstructing officers at the Lower West Terrace Tunnel from approximately 3:40 to 4:00 p.m.
WNCTimes
