Capitol protester sentenced to 5 years in prison for assaulting police officers

It's been over three years since the Jan. 6 Capitol unrest, and the Department of Justice is still pursuing those involved.

According to The Hill, the most recent sentencing involved a Florida man who was hit with a five-year sentence for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol protests and riot.

Kenneth Bonawitz, a 58-year-old “Proud Boys” member, was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three felonies related to his involvement.

The Justice Department described Bonawitz as "one of the more violent January 6 rioters."

The Hill noted:

Bonawitz was sentenced to to 60 months in prison, 36 months supervised release and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and fines. He also pleaded guilty to felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, the DOJ said.

📌BREAKING: Kenneth J. Bonawitz was just sentenced to 5 yrs. in prison for assaulting 6 officers during Trump's Jan. 6 attack on our capitol.

📌Prosecutors called him “one of the most violent rioters” and that his attacks “were barbaric & left physical & psychological injuries." pic.twitter.com/US0WkNKiA4

— D. Earl Stephens (@EarlOfEnough) January 18, 2024

According to the DOJ's press release, Bonawitz attacked six law enforcement officers, which "included hurling himself at officers and tackling them to the ground, placing one officer in a chokehold, and lifting the officer up by the neck."

Bonawitz reportedly carried an "8-inch" knife to the protest and was reportedly one of the first people to push through the law enforcement barrier as the situation intensified.

He ultimately had his knife confiscated by police after bursting through the line of police, but eventually slipped away and rejoined the crowd before assaulting several more law enforcement officers, the DOJ said.

The Hill noted:

At one point, Bonawitz shoved an officer, who stumbled forward and then turned around to face Bonawitz. Bonawitz then “wrapped his arms around the officer from behind, inserted his forearm under the officer’s shield, and then put the officer in a chokehold. He briefly lifted the officer off the ground and caused the officer to gag before struggling free of his grip.”

Bonawitz reportedly talked to reporters on his way out of the protest and described his run-ins with law enforcement.

Social media users reacted to the news of his sentencing, with many pleased at the result, and others hoping he'd been hit with a longer sentence.

Over 1200 have been charged for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot, with many more expected to be sentenced this year.

Only time will tell how many more they get.