Actor Jay Johnston, best known for his roles in popular comedies like Bob’s Burgers and Arrested Development, was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday for his role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Johnston, a 56-year-old Los Angeles resident, participated in a forceful push against police officers who were defending a tunnel entrance at the Capitol during the riot. He also used his phone to record the unfolding chaos, cracking jokes and interacting with other rioters throughout the incident.
While expressing remorse for his actions, Johnston maintained that he never anticipated the riot erupting that day, attributing his lack of awareness to his own political apathy. He expressed regret for making his peers’ jobs more difficult by participating in the events of January 6th.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ruled to sentence Johnston to one year and one day in prison, acknowledging that Johnston would miss vital time caring for his 13-year-old autistic daughter. He emphasized the severity of Johnston’s actions, labeling them "quite problematic" and "reprehensible."
Prosecutors had sought an 18-month sentence, citing a photograph of Johnston dressed as the infamous “QAnon Shaman,” Jacob Chansley, at a Halloween party years after the riot, suggesting he treated the event as a lighthearted affair.
Johnston pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, a felony charge carrying a maximum penalty of five years. Since the January 6th riot, Johnston has been dismissed from Bob’s Burgers, relegated to a less determinable fate in the film adaptation of the laugh-worthy cartoon and largely ostracized from Hollywood. According to his defense team, he has been forced to revise his career path, accepting odd jobs to maintain income.
In his prisoner transfer information, Johnston will join the ranks of other high profile individuals, like the creators of the "Stop the Steal" rally", to receive legal consequences for their actions during this U.S history moment.