Man who assaulted 4 officers throughout Capitol riot is sentenced to almost 3 years in jail

A Minnesota man who repeatedly attacked law enforcement officials in the course of the U.S. Capitol riot, wielded a police baton as a weapon and stole two riot shields was sentenced on Thursday to almost three years in jail.

Brian Mock, 44, helped take away two police barricades earlier than he assaulted 4 officers in the course of the Jan. 6, 2021, siege. He shoved one of many officers within the chest and knocked him onto the bottom, the place different rioters kicked and hit him.

Mock requested for leniency earlier than Chief Decide James Boasberg sentenced him to 2 years and 9 months in jail.

“I am not somebody who confirmed up in tactical gear, with tasers and bear spray,” he mentioned. “It is a second that I acquired caught up in.”

However the choose mentioned Mock clearly got here to Washington, D.C., anticipating violence on Jan. 6.

“So it is exhausting to suppose you got here merely as a bystander,” Boasberg mentioned.

Boasberg convicted Mock of all 11 counts in his indictment, together with felony assault prices, after listening to testimony with out a jury. Mock testified and represented himself at his July 2023 trial.

Prosecutors really helpful sentencing Mock to 9 years and one month in jail. He’ll get credit score for the almost one 12 months that he spent in jail awaiting trial.

Mock mentioned jail was a traumatic expertise for him. The choose famous that Jan. 6 was a “scarring” expertise for the officers whom he assaulted.

“These have been searing moments for them and searing moments for the nation,” Boasberg added.

Mock, a landscaping firm proprietor and former debt collector, was arrested in June 2021 on riot-related prices. He wasn’t charged with getting into the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Mock recruited his girlfriend and one other pal to drive with him to Washington, D.C., for then-President Donald Trump’s “Cease the Steal” rally on Jan. 6. Earlier than leaving, Mock instructed his oldest son that he may die there.

Mock was the main target of a New York Occasions article that explored his relationship along with his oldest son. Prosecutors cited Mock’s feedback to the newspaper as proof of his lack of regret and refusal to simply accept duty for his crimes.

“The Court docket can’t have any confidence that Mock wouldn’t have interaction in the very same habits sooner or later if he thought it was justified, if he thought — once more — that it was a vital and righteous response to what he perceived as tyranny,” prosecutors wrote in a court docket submitting.

Protection lawyer Michelle Peterson mentioned Mock went to Washington as a result of he believed there have been “irregularities” within the 2020 presidential election that must be investigated.

“He’s not an idealogue however fairly is somebody with agency beliefs which might be on each side of the political spectrum,” Peterson wrote.

Prosecutors mentioned Mock has a “disturbing historical past of violence,” together with prices that he assaulted his ex-wife in 2009. The lady later mentioned she determined towards pursuing the home violence prices as a result of Mock blackmailed her and threatened to get her fired from her job, in keeping with prosecutors.

The FBI mentioned Mock additionally has a 2010 conviction on a weapon cost. The conviction stems from a 2009 incident wherein Mock allegedly pointed a gun on the heads of three youngsters and threatened to shoot them throughout his oldest son’s celebration. Mock refused to depart his home after a SWAT crew arrived.

“As a substitute, he barricaded himself inside along with his gun, shaved his head, and instructed the police they must get a warrant,” prosecutors wrote. “Many hours later, a police negotiator lastly coaxed Mock exterior.”

After Mock’s arrest on Jan. 6 prices, the then-girlfriend who joined him in Washington obtained a restraining order towards him “as a result of she felt fearful of his habits and potential habits within the aftermath of their breakup,” prosecutors mentioned.

“Mock can’t declare that violence was restricted to 1 time of his life or one set of relationships,” they wrote.

The choose who convicted and sentenced Mock described a few of his trial testimony as “foolish,” together with his declare that he was referring to singer Nancy Sinatra — not then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi — when he posted a Fb message on Jan. 1, 2021, that mentioned, “Effectively Nancy, that ain’t the worst factor that’s going to occur to you this week.”

Roughly 1,300 individuals have been charged with federal crimes associated to the Capitol assault. Over 800 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving jail phrases starting from just a few days to 22 years.