January 6 rioter who attacked several police officers sentenced to 17 months in prison

A Texas woman who pleaded guilty to assaulting police during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was sentenced Thursday to 17 months in prison.

Dana Jean Bell’s conviction is just one of many other defendants who will face accountability for their roles in the attack on the U.S. Capitol in the coming weeks, even as former President Donald Trump attempts to rewrite the story of this day in his bid for re-election. – notably by describing it as a “day of love” during a town hall on Wednesday.

Thursday’s sentencing hearing, however, painted a much different picture of the day’s events.

Bell, then 62, was considered a particularly disruptive rioter who engaged in “prolonged, abusive and violent” attacks on law enforcement officers, including one who ultimately committed suicide at the from injuries caused by the insurrection, prosecutors said. .

Handed down by Washington District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, the sentence is less than the 27 months of incarceration requested by the U.S. government, and the imposition of a fine has been waived. Bell must spend three additional years on supervised release, in addition to paying $2,000 in restitution and the mandatory special assessment of $100.

During the sentencing trial, the prosecution played several video clips in which Bell can be seen directing a series of obscenities and offensive gestures toward law enforcement officers, including Officer Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, who committed suicide after suffering head trauma and concussions – injuries that the DC Police and Fire Retirement Relief Committee ruled were the “cause unique and direct of his death.

Smith’s widow, Erin Smith, was present at the sentencing trial where she gave an emotional victim impact statement and asked that Bell receive the maximum prison term.

“Instead of becoming a mother at 35, I became a widow,” she said. “Whatever sentence you decide, remember that I am now living a life sentence without Jeffrey.”

She noted that her husband “died protecting democracy itself” and that he did not have the chance to continue serving the citizens of Washington “because of Dana Bell.”

Although Bell was not the direct cause of Smith’s injuries, the prosecution pointed out how “his verbal barrage is a significant element in his body camera footage from that day” and Erin Smith added that the Bell’s actions left her husband “vulnerable”.

Body camera footage shows Bell shaking his hand in Officer Smith’s face and yelling, “Get a real job, get a real job! We don’t support you anymore. Now NO ONE supports you! Nobody!”

Judge Kelly called Bell’s conduct “totally disrespectful,” referring to his treatment of law enforcement officers, his disregard for the symbolic Capitol building and his role in disrupting the transition peaceful power. He also found that his violence “put (her) apart” from most of the other rioters, and his ability to make it to the President’s Lobby was “remarkable.”

Also present in court was another MPD officer who Bell yelled, shoved and gave the finger to during the attack. The prosecution added that she grabbed his equipment, “I want(ing) to hold his stick and neutralize him.

The videos also show Bell shaking police barricades, opening doors to the east rotunda while a police officer was trapped behind the door, throwing a pole to the ground, inserting himself among officers treating a gunshot wound, disobeying at the command of the police, pushing and elbowing the officers, and holding on to police equipment.

She was even seen attacking a news crew before punching and kicking bystanders who tried to intervene.

Referring to a forensic psychology report, the defense argued that Bell displayed “generally calm and friendly” demeanor and only became violent after seeing another rioter, Ashley Babbitt, being shot.

Judge Kelly recalled being “stunned” by the report, even wondering “if it was some sort of joke.” He explained that such a report in no way demonstrated medical opinion, and he did not accept the explanation that Babbitt was the cause of Bell’s violence “because it is not consistent with the evidence.”

In addition to highlighting this discrepancy, the prosecution referred to other instances in which the defendant’s description of Bell’s actions was considered “simply false,” for which Bell’s attorney took responsibility.

“It’s my fault,” he said. “I’m the one responsible for the language.” He added that Bell’s actions and conduct were “contextual” and acknowledged that he viewed the accusation “differently.”

In tear-filled testimony, Bell explained how she was “ashamed and truly sorry.”

“All my life I have been a huge supporter of the police,” she said, even calling herself “obsessed” and calling them “heroes.”

Bell’s husband also spoke on behalf of her character, pointing out that she even supported the police in 2020, when anti-police sentiment was rampant.

As the videos played, Bell repeatedly turned his head and looked away from the footage. She also personally apologized to Erin Smith several times, frequently looking at her with tear-filled eyes.

“These are my choices, my decisions,” she added, apologizing to the government as a whole. “I fully accept responsibility for my criminal conduct that day.”

Although the prosecution questioned Bell’s character, the judge accepted his remorse and took his early admission of guilt into consideration when determining his sentence.

The court also recognized Bell’s lack of criminal record, although his actions were still considered premeditated.

“No one denies that she intentionally and deliberately entered the Capitol,” Bell’s own lawyer acknowledged.

Federal prosecutors have charged about 1,532 defendants and sentenced more than 615 people involved in the Capitol attack to prison terms, according to figures released this month by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC.