Prosecutors had sought a sentence of eight years and four months on grounds, among other things, that Bradley swung a metal baton that had apparently been taken from a Capitol Police officer at a line of police officers as he joined a group of rioters, who fought in a battle entrance tunnel on the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace. Walton instead sided with Bradley’s defense attorney, who wrote in a sentencing memo that five years was an appropriate sentence given the charges and Bradley’s prior arrest history.

The insurrection followed a plaintive address by then-President Donald Trump at the Ellipse Temple in which he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, where Congress was preparing to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Last month, Paul Enzinna, Bradley’s court-appointed attorney, tried to delay sentencing until Trump returned to the White House. After that, the attorney wrote, “it is likely, if not certain, that Justice Department policy toward prosecutions will change significantly toward January 6.”

Photo credit: US Department of Justice

Photo credit: US Department of Justice

Enzinna wrote that Trump called the Jan. 6 defendants “‘patriots’ who were ‘wrongfully imprisoned,’ and he has vowed to pardon them upon his return to office.”

“Therefore, even if the DOJ continues to prosecute the January 6 defendants, it is highly likely that defendants convicted of charges related to the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 will be pardoned for those offenses,” wrote he.

The judge was not convinced.

“Speculation about what the future president might do when he takes office cannot exceed what the legislature requires a judicial officer to do after a criminal conviction,” wrote Walton, an appointee of former President George W. Bush.

Enzinna argued for a lighter sentence, highlighting Bradley’s “rough” upbringing, which included alleged alcohol abuse by his parents, who divorced when Bradley was three. According to the files, Bradley left home at 14, lived on the streets, abused alcohol and drugs, and was arrested multiple times until his early 30s. Worst of all, Bradley was convicted of methamphetamine trafficking in 2002 and was imprisoned until 2007.

After prison, Bradley took a series of blue-collar jobs, including as a plumber and auto mechanic, married and became “a born-again Christian,” Enzinna wrote.

Bradley was among the rioters who engaged in a lengthy melee with police officers at the entrance tunnel, where some of the fiercest fighting took place. Videos used as evidence at his trial showed Bradley swinging a metal baton, although Enzinna said there was no direct evidence that he knew “who was on the end of the baton” when he swung.

Walton rejected that argument in his ruling, saying there was no evidence he tried to attack other rioters instead of police. In a memo filed with the court before sentencing, prosecutors wrote that while they could not determine who Bradley hit with the baton, “it was clear that Bradley used his size and weight … to force his baton on the heads of the people.” “Policemen to swing.” Officers at the police line.”

In the memo, prosecutors wrote that Bradley lied to FBI investigators about his role in the riot and falsely claimed he had been pushed into the fight by other rioters when surveillance video showed him making his way to the front of the line had prepared, where he “actively participated”. the ongoing attacks.” Prosecutors also wrote that Bradley gave false testimony in court that he had no idea there were police officers in the tunnel and thought he was attacking other rioters.

So far, 35 defendants with ties to Georgia have been criminally charged with involvement in the Jan. 6 riots. So far, almost 1,600 people have been charged as part of the long-term investigation. According to the Justice Department, Bradley is among more than 590 defendants accused of assaulting police.