A man convicted of assaulting police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot has been sentenced to six years in prison. David Joseph Gietzen, 31, of Sanford, North Carolina, struck a police officer with a pole during the mob's attack on January 6, 2021.
During his sentencing, Gietzen expressed that he did not intend to harm anyone that day but did not show any remorse for his actions. He joined a mob of Donald Trump supporters in disrupting the joint session of Congress certifying President Joe Biden's electoral victory.
Despite being convicted of eight counts, including assault and civil disorder charges, Gietzen maintained his belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. The judge noted Gietzen's unapologetic stance during the trial and sentencing hearing.
After his conviction, Gietzen failed to comply with a court order to report to prison and was eventually arrested at his mother's home in North Carolina. Prosecutors highlighted his pattern of disregarding rules and laws.
Prosecutors recommended a prison term of over 10 years, while Gietzen's defense sought a four-year sentence, emphasizing his disengagement from politics. Gietzen, a computer programming engineer, graduated from North Carolina State University in 2017.
Gietzen traveled to Washington, D.C., with his brother to attend the 'Stop the Steal' rally before participating in the Capitol riot. He engaged in violent acts against law enforcement officers, showing a lack of respect for the democratic process.
Over 1,350 individuals have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes, with more than 800 already sentenced to imprisonment terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.
