Geophysicist Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Role in Capitol Riot

Geophysicist Jeffrey P. Sabol, 53, from Kittredge, Colorado, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The sentencing took place in federal court on Thursday, where Sabol was also ordered to pay $32,165 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

Sabol, who traveled to Washington, D.C., with members of a self-proclaimed neighborhood watch group, participated in the “Stop the Steal” rally at the White House before joining the mob attempting to breach the Capitol. He was at the forefront of the rioters who confronted police on the west side of the building, repeatedly pushing and running into the police line. Eventually, they broke through and flooded into the West Plaza, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

During the chaos, Sabol actively engaged with law enforcement officers, attempting to wrestle batons and protective gear away from them. He also assisted two other rioters in dragging an officer down the steps and into the mob, where the officer was brutally beaten with a flagpole and baton, as reported by the agency.

Following the riot, Sabol took deliberate steps to conceal his involvement. He deleted text messages, destroyed his laptops in a microwave, and disposed of his cell phone in a body of water. However, his attempts to evade capture were unsuccessful, and he was arrested on January 11, 2021, in Westchester, New York.

After a bench trial in August, Sabol was found guilty of three felony counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding and federal robbery. During his sentencing, he expressed remorse and acknowledged his guilt, stating that he would have apologized directly to the officers he attacked if they had been present in court. Sabol accepted the consequences of his actions, stating, “I accept whatever it is you hand me. I’ll be honest: I deserve it.”

Author: CrimeDoor