Man who attacked four officers during Capitol riot has been sentenced to nearly 3 years in prison

WASHINGTON: A Minnesota man who repeatedly attacked police officers, used police batons as weapons and stole two riot shields during the US Capitol riot was sentenced to nearly three years in prison on Thursday Was sentenced.

Brian Mock, 44, helped clear two police barricades before attacking four officers during the January 6, 2021 siege. He punched an officer in the chest and knocked him to the ground, where other rioters kicked and punched him.

Mock pleaded for leniency before being sentenced by Chief Justice James Boasberg to two years and nine months in prison.

“I’m not one of those guys who showed up in tactical gear with Tasers and bear spray,” he said. “It’s a moment I got stuck in.”

But the judge said Mock apparently came to Washington, D.C., on January 6 expecting violence.

“So it’s hard to think that you just came as a spectator,” Boasberg said.

After hearing testimony without a jury, Boasberg convicted Mock on all 11 counts in his indictment, including the felony assault charge. Mock testified and represented himself at his trial in July 2023.

Prosecutors recommended Mock be sentenced to nine years and one month in prison. He will receive credit for the approximately one year he spent in jail awaiting trial.

Mock said prison was a traumatic experience for him. The judge said January 6 was a “terrifying” experience for the officers he attacked.

“These were serious moments for him and for the country,” Boasberg said.

Mock, a landscaping company owner and former debt collector, was arrested on riot-related charges in June 2021. He was not charged with entering the Capitol on January 6.

Mock recruited his girlfriend and another friend to drive with him to Washington, DC, for then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6. Before leaving, Mock told his eldest son that he might die there.

Mock was the focus of a New York Times article that explored his relationship with his eldest son. Prosecutors cited Mock’s comments in the newspaper as evidence of his lack of remorse and refusal to accept responsibility for his crimes.

Prosecutors said, “The court can have no confidence that Mock would not engage in exactly the same behavior in the future, if he felt it was appropriate, if he thought – again – of what he would regard as torture.” “Looks like it was a necessary and appropriate response for him.” wrote in a court filing.

Defense attorney Michelle Peterson said Mock went to Washington because he believed there were “irregularities” in the 2020 presidential election that should be investigated.

“He is no idealist, but rather a man with strong convictions on both sides of the political spectrum,” Peterson wrote.

Prosecutors said Mock had a “troubling history of violence”, including allegations that he attacked his ex-wife in 2009. The woman later said she decided to pursue domestic violence charges because Mock blackmailed her and threatened to fire her. According to prosecutors.

The FBI said Mock also had a 2010 conviction on weapons charges. The conviction stemmed from a 2009 incident in which Mock allegedly pointed a gun at the heads of three children during his eldest son’s birthday party and threatened to shoot them. Mock refused to leave his home after the SWAT team arrived.

“Instead, he barricaded himself inside with his gun down, shaved his head and told police they had to get a warrant,” prosecutors wrote. “After several hours, a police negotiator finally called Mock out.”

Following Mock’s arrest on the January 6 charges, his then-girlfriend, who had joined him in Washington, obtained a restraining order against him “because she was fearful of his behavior and potential behavior following their breakup,” prosecutors said.

He wrote, “Mock cannot claim that the violence was limited to one time in his life or one set of relationships.”

The judge who convicted and sentenced Mock described some of his trial testimony as “silly”, including his claim that he was referring to singer Nancy Sinatra – not then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – when he said on January 1, 2021 had posted a Facebook message. , he said, “Okay Nancy, this isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you this week.”

Nearly 1,300 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol attack. More than 800 of them have been sentenced, with nearly two-thirds receiving prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.

Disclaimer: This post has been automatically published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – The Associated Press)