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The alleged stun gun-carrying rioter pictured with his boot on Nancy Pelosi’s desk will remain under house arrest pending the resolution of charges that could put him on the sidelines for more than a decade.
A federal magistrate ordered the release of Richard Barnett, 60, under “very, very restrictive conditions” after a five-hour hearing on Friday.
After posting a $ 5,000 bond, Barnett will be in custody at his Arkansas home with no internet access and will have to surrender his passport, according to Politico.
His release followed objection from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which requested another hearing so prosecutors could again argue that he is too dangerous to be released.
Barnett will remain behind bars until Saturday at the earliest while the court considers the request, the site said.
Barnett faces charges of disorderly driving, theft and entering Capitol Park with a stun gun; a test date has been set for March.
At Friday’s hearing, prosecutors said Barnett was a dangerous person who tried to avoid capture by turning off location services on his phone and covering his face after footage of him “mocking him. [House Speaker Pelosi] and his office ”has gone viral.
Federal officials also said he seemed “to be enjoying this moment of glory a lot,” after stepping on the office of the country’s top Democrat and bragging about stealing a document.
Prosecutors also released a video of Barnett buying a stun gun, walkie talkies and pepper spray on New Years Eve. Barnett’s girlfriend testified that she encouraged him to bring the guns for protection, Politico reports.
Barnett White Plains defense attorney Anthony Siano called half a dozen witnesses and pointed out that Barnett and his family had received threats as a result of his leading role in the Capitol uprising Hill.
“He appears to be a law-abiding citizen, for the most part, although there have been incidents that worry the court that he is armed at rallies,” Justice of the Peace Erin Weidemann conceded.
Barnett could face a maximum of 11.5 years in prison and a fine of $ 355,000 if found guilty.
With AP wires
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