Rioter Gets Five Years In Crushing Of Capitol Officer

From the Justice Department:

Tristan Chandler Stevens, 27, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 60 months in prison on four counts of assaulting or aiding and abetting in assaulting law enforcement officers, one count of interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, all felonies, and four misdemeanor charges.

Stevens was found guilty on September 13, 2022, following a bench trial. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered 24 months of supervised release, $2,000 restitution, and a $500 fine.

According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 6, 2021, Stevens traveled to Washington, D.C. and illegally made his way on to the restricted grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Stevens taunted officers at the West Front.

He and two co-defendants ultimately broke through the police line after approximately 2:30 p.m., when the line on the West Front failed under the siege of the advancing mob.

Each of the defendants scaled the Southwest scaffolding and staircase, to converge together at the tunnel created by the inaugural platform structure on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol Building.

At the Lower West Terrace, officers of the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department guarded the entrance door to the Capitol from the mob for several hours.

Between 2:41 p.m. and 3:19 p.m., Stevens and his co-defendants attempted to break into the building by directing other rioters, participating in heave-ho pushes against the police line, using riot shields stolen from the Capitol Police, and assaulting numerous officers. Stevens was a key player in the melee.

Even after officers finally cleared the tunnel area, Stevens illegally remained on Capitol grounds.

Stevens is very active on Twitter and yesterday retweeted the final post below.