Schiller Park Robin Reierson sentenced, immediately taken into custody for January 6 violence

CHICAGO (WLS) — A former employee of the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Schiller Park resident Robin Reierson, who turns 70 next month, pleaded guilty to “assaulting, resisting or obstructing police officers” during the Capitol Hill takeover, but had asked that he not there is no prison sentence. Federal prosecutors, who emphasized the need for prison as a deterrent to such political violence, wanted Reierson imprisoned for two years.

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In an unusual move by authorities, Reierson was immediately taken into custody following his sentencing hearing Wednesday in Washington, DC. Typically, defendants are given ample time to get their affairs in order and then surrender at a later date.

That wasn’t the case for Reierson on Wednesday. His total sentence is a year and a half in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, a $5,000 fine and $2,000 restitution.

Michael Leonard, Reierson’s attorney, told the I-Team that U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton had a message for Reierson in ordering him sent to prison immediately.

“The judge spent a lot of time speaking directly to (Reierson) and sort of stating its themes that another election is coming. I need to send a message to people who might do something in light of the upcoming election,” Leonard said.

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“I would certainly say that the punishment is supposed to fit the person who committed the crime,” Leonard added. “Especially when you have a guy like Reierson, who by all accounts has led a great life, is an extremely respected guy in the community. So, it’s disappointing that (the sentence) is not more suitable for him in this case.

Gil Soffer, ABC 7’s chief legal analyst and former federal prosecutor, said it’s possible the judge wants to send a message with Reierson’s sentencing.

“The government is not immune to what is happening around it,” Soffer said. “The Department of Justice is not immune to what’s going on in the world at large. So they may feel, given the election, that they want to send a message loud and clear according to which such conduct will not be tolerated.

As first reported by the ABC7 I-Team, at the time of the riot, Reierson was working as the head welder at Argonne National Laboratory, a high-security facility southwest of Chicago. An Argonne National Laboratory spokesperson told the I-Team that Reierson “is no longer employed by the laboratory” and directed all further questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to the sentencing judge, Reierson must stay off Capitol grounds while on supervised release unless specially authorized.

Authorities say Reierson “used his back and body to push against a bike rack barrier and into the line of assembled officers,” conduct that quickly led to the collapse of a police skirmish line and resulted in a breach that allowed an angry mob to push toward the Capitol building.

During the melee, security photos show Reierson wearing a protective helmet and cheering on his fellow attackers, investigators say, encouraging them to “don’t stop…keep going!”

Wednesday’s sentence follows a similar recent trend of harsher penalties for defendants accused of crimes related to January 6.

“The government has made clear why it is seeking more prison time in order to send a message to deter similar behavior in potential future cases like this,” Soffer told the I-Team. “They are becoming more aggressive in these matters.”