A man who had his feet propped on a desk in the office of Nancy Pelosi, then House Speaker, during a demonstration on January 6, 2021, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars.
Richard “Bigo” Barnett was found guilty on all eight counts. These included civil disorder, obstruction to an official proceeding, and felony charges.
The federal prosecutor requested that the judge sentence Barnett for his actions during the 6th of January protest to seven years imprisonment, followed by three-year supervision.
The sentence consisted of four and a half years in prison followed by three years of supervision.
Barnett putting his feet on Pelosi’s desk was one of the most memorable images from the events which took place on Jan. 6, 2012
This protest was held on the same day that Congress convened a joint meeting to certify Biden’s victory in the election.
Barnett claimed that he was looking for restrooms in the Capitol when he entered Pelosi’s office accidentally. He was then approached by two journalists.
One of the photographers told him to sit back and place his legs on the table.
Bennett’s lawyer, Joseph McBride, asked him if he knew that his actions might get him in trouble.
Barnett replied, “I was just in the moment.”
Prosecutors also said Barnett was armed with a stun gun in his pants when he stormed the Capitol and raided Pelosi’s office. Once he was in the office, prosecutors said, Barnett took a piece of Pelosi’s mail and left a note saying, “Nancy, Bigo was here.”
Barnett was on his way out of the Capitol grounds when he used a loudspeaker to give a speech, shouting, “We have taken our house back and I took Nancy Pelosi’s office”, according to prosecutors.
More than 940 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the attack of Jan. 6. 500 of them have already pleaded guilty.
Barnett is one of over a dozen defendants that went to trial.
Barnett, 62 years old, is a retired firefighter. He is originally from Gravette, Arkansas.
