Michael Sparks, the first rioter to enter the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was sentenced to over four years in prison on Tuesday, according to federal prosecutors.
In March, Sparks was found guilty by a federal jury of felony charges including obstructing an official proceeding and civil disorder, as well as several misdemeanors for unlawfully entering the Capitol.
Spark’s social media posts urging civil war and violence against Congress were cited by prosecutors, also playing a role in his sentencing. Sparks, who turned himself in on January 19, 2021, did not testify but expressed regret that the January 6 events “did not change anything” and reaffirmed his belief in the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen.
U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly sentenced Sparks to 53 months in prison, imposed a $2,000 fine, and ordered three years of supervised release following his incarceration. Court footage revealed Sparks entering the Capitol at 2:13 p.m. through a window that rioters had broken with a police shield.
Michael Sparks was among the first group of rioters met by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who played a crucial role in preventing the mob from reaching members of Congress. According to prosecutors, rioters chased Goodman up the stairs, demanding to know where Congress was certifying the election results. Officer Goodman and other officers confronted the mob at the top of the stairs, while Mr. Sparks yelled “This is our America!” at them.
Prosecutors had sought a 57-month prison term, noting that Sparks’s entry contributed to the disruption of the Electoral College vote count and the peaceful transfer of power. Judge Kelly agreed, stating that Sparks’s actions had a significant impact on the Capitol breach.
Sparks is among the more than 1,300 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 riots.
