Hollywood actor sentenced to one year in prison over participation in January 6 riot

Hollywood actor Jay Johnston, known for his work in "Bob's Burgers" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday for his participation in the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill in 2021.

Johnston pleaded guilty to his role in the day's events in July, after video footage showed him pushing police officers who were protecting the United States Capitol building, and helping other rioters that attacked the officers. 

Johnston also signaled for rioters to come toward an entrance to the Capitol through a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace, and held a stolen police shield above his head and passed it to other rioters.

The actor admitted that his actions on January 6 were "a humiliation and a horrible oversight." 

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols sentenced Johnston to 12 months in prison after prosecutors sought at an 18-month sentence, and Johnston asked for less than a year. He has also been ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol, and was given 40 hours of community service.

“An 18-month sentence reflects the gravity of Johnston’s conduct, including his spread of disinformation about January 6th and his lack of remorse for participating in the riot,” prosecutors wrote to Nichols earlier this month, per The Hill.

Johnston's team asked the court to consider the impact that the riot had on his career when delivering a sentence. The actor was reportedly fired from his role on "Bob's Burgers" over his actions, and was written out of a different movie he had lined up. He has allegedly been blacklisted in the business since.

“He’s closing the door by pleading guilty here,” Tim Johnston, the younger brother of Jay Johnston, said of his brother’s acting career. 

Johnston could have faced up to five years for his crimes, but the sentencing guidelines ranged from eight to 14 months.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.