South Carolina Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Assault on Officers During Capitol Riot

A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Christopher George Rockey, a 54-year-old from Cross, South Carolina, was handed down the sentence today after pleading guilty earlier this year, as reported by the

U.S. Department of Justice

.

The events that led to Rockey’s arrest began when he decided to truly travel from his home state to Washington, D.C., to take part in the protest that would ultimately turn into a riot. After the former President’s speech, Rockey joined the mob that stormed the Capitol in an attempt to halt the electoral vote count. According to court documents, Rockey entered the Capitol around 2:23 p.m. and was actively involved in confrontations with police, at one point grabbing a riot shield and a police baton.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, who sentenced Rockey, also imposed a 24-month period of supervised release and ordered Rockey to pay $2,000 in restitution. Rockey pleaded guilty on June 12, to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, which is a felony charge.

During the time law enforcement officers were trying to clear rioters from the Upper Terrace of the Capitol, around 4:35 p.m., Rockey aggressively moved towards them and ignored their commands. He grabbed and pulled down a riot shield, which, court documents say, was a deliberate attempt to prevent the officers from performing their duty. The FBI had issued a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) #500 for Rockey and took him into custody in South Carolina on Dec. 13, 2023.

Since the January 6 incident, over 1,561 individuals have faced charges in connection with the breach of the Capitol, which includes more than 590 who were accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The

DOJ release

noted that the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, and Metropolitan Police Department continue to work in concert on the investigation, which remains ongoing. Tips can still be submitted to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through their website.

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