38-year-old Paul Hodgkins of Tampa was sentenced to eight months in prison Monday after pleading guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony charge stemming from his participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Why it matters: Hodgkins is the first Jan. 6 rioter to be sentenced for a felony, setting a benchmark for hundreds of other cases that prosecutors have brought against individuals involved in the Capitol attack.
What they’re saying: As he prepared to announce the sentence, Judge Randolph Moss said that Hodgkins “actively participated” in an event that threatened not only Capitol security, but “democracy itself.” Continue reading.