PROUD Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio was sentenced to more than five months on Monday for charges linked to the destruction of a Black Lives Matter flag.
Tarrio, 37, was taken into custody on January 4 when he traveled to DC to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally.
Police were carrying out a warrant for charges stemming from the burning of a BLM stolen from the historic Asbury United Methodist Church in DC during a pro-Trump rally in December 2020.
When arrested, he was found to be in possession of two large-capacity magazines, which are illegal in DC.
On Monday, a judge sentenced him to 240 days and a fine for possession of the magazines, with all but 150 days suspended.
He was also sentenced to 60 days for the destruction of the flag.
Tarrio had pleaded guilty to both charges.
"I made a grave mistake," Tarrio told the court ahead of his sentencing.
"I'd like to profusely apologize for my actions. I heard the grief in (the pastor's) voice. What I did was wrong," he added after the pastor from Asbury United Methodist Church spoke.
"There's no excuse for what I did," Tarrio said of bringing the magazine ammunitions to DC.
"I have suffered financially, socially for what I've done. My family's business has suffered.
"I really would like to profusely apologize. I hope (the pastor) accepts my apology for what I did."
Earlier the pastor, Rev. Dr. Ianther Mills, told the court that Tarrio's burning of the flag was a "careless act of violence and hatred."
"We are hopeful that we also live in a world that leans toward justice and accountability," Mills added.
"Mr Tarrio's action sparked feelings of hurt, anger, confusion."
Prosecutors had pushed for 90 days in jail followed by three months of probation and an order forbidding him to return to Washington.
They argued that Tarrio had bragged about the flag on social media, writing"I'm damn proud I did it!"
In announcing his sentence on Monday, the judge decided that Tarrio had not expressed remorse over the burning of the flag.
"Mr Tarrio's social posts show he encouraged others to travel to Capitol on January 6," he said, adding that Tarrio had "court he intended to sell the two high-capacity to a customer who was.. traveling to DC on Jan 6."
"He cared about himself and self-promotion.. not the laws of DC," the judge decided.
More to follow…
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