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Florida man first to be convicted of a crime related to the Jan.6 riot on the U.S. Capitol – and the judge’s decision on Monday on how long, if any, to keep him behind bars will influence probably hundreds of other defendants are considering entering into plea deals or being tried.
Paul Allard Hodgkins, 38, of Tampa, Fla., Pleaded guilty last month to one count of obstructing due process.
Prosecutors had asked US District Judge Randolph Moss to sentence Hodgkins to 18 months in prison, saying in a recent filing that he, “like every rioter, contributed to the collective threat to democracy” by forcing lawmakers to give up temporarily their certification of the election of Joe Biden. victory and scramble to shelter from the incoming crowds.
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A lawyer for Hodgkins has asked the judge not to impose a jail term, saying the shame that will attach to Hodgkins for the rest of his life should be counted as punishment.
“Whatever punishment this tribunal may inflict, it will be pale in comparison to the scarlet letter Mr. Hodgkins will wear for the rest of his life,” Patrick N. Leduc wrote in a recent filing, citing a novel by Nathaniel. Hawthorne in which a woman accused of adultery is forced to wear a letter “A.”
Hodgkins has never been charged with assaulting anyone or damaging property.
Prosecutors said he deserved some leniency for assuming his responsibilities almost immediately and pleading guilty to the obstruction charge, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $ 250,000 or double the monetary gain or loss of the offense.
But their file also noted how he boarded a bus in his hometown of Tampa bound for a Jan. 6 rally hosted by then-President Trump wearing rope, goggles and sunglasses. latex gloves in a backpack – claiming he had come to Washington, DC prepared for violence.
Court documents show Hodgkins entered the U.S. Capitol building at around 2:50 p.m. on January 6. At around 3 p.m., he entered the Senate Chamber, walked between the desks, then removed his goggles. He took a “selfie-like” photo and walked well into the Senate where, a few meters away, several people were shouting, praying and clapping using a megaphone, according to the Ministry of Justice. Justice.
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Hodgkins walked over to the individuals and remained standing with them as they continued to gain the attention of others. At approximately 3:15 p.m., Hodgkins left the Senate Chamber and the United States Capitol.
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