Capitol rioter who smoked marijuana in a senator’s office sentenced to prison

A Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioter who smoked marijuana in a senator’s workplace was sentenced to three.5 years in jail on Thursday. 

New York state native Brandon Fellows, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Choose Trevor N. McFadden to 37 months in jail, plus 5 months for a contempt of court docket cost. 

He was convicted by a jury final August for a felony misdemeanor offense of coming into and remaining in a “restricted constructing,” disorderly and disruptive conduct on restricted grounds, and disorderly conduct within the Capitol constructing, according to the Division of Justice (DOJ). 

Fellows, a chimney repairman, entered the Capitol constructing throughout the Jan. 6 riot by a damaged window. After briefly coming into a congressional convention room, he received to Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-Ore.) workplace the place he smoked marijuana. He then joined different rioters strolling by the Capitol Crypt earlier than later leaving the “identical method he got here.”

“There’s only a complete bunch of individuals lighting up in some Oregon room,” Fellows reportedly stated on the time, based on DOJ. 

Fellows known as Choose McFadden a “modern-day Nazi.” 

“In all my years as a choose, and earlier than that as a litigator, I’ve by no means seen such contemptuous conduct,” McFadden stated throughout Thursday’s sentencing, referring to many occasions he interrupted and insulted the choose, based on the Washington Post. 

“There isn’t any grand conspiracy right here towards you,” McFadden stated. “It’s time so that you can develop up”

Since Jan. 6, 2021, greater than 1,300 folks have been charged associated to the riot on the Capitol. Greater than 400 folks have been charged with assaulting legislation enforcement, based on DOJ, whose investigation associated to the breach continues to be ongoing.