Evergreen Reporter

Four men from Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia have been sentenced to various terms after being convicted of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to their actions during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their conduct disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to count electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.

Sentenced on September 19, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb were Stephen Chase Randolph, 34, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky; James Tate Grant, 31, of Cary, North Carolina; Jason Benjamin Blythe, 28, of Fort Worth, Texas; and Paul Russell Johnson, 38, of Lanexa, Virginia.

Randolph received an eight-year prison sentence with 36 months of supervised release and was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. Grant was sentenced to three years in prison with the same period of supervised release and restitution amount. Blythe received a two-and-a-half-year prison term with similar conditions. Johnson was sentenced to five years probation with intermittent confinement on weekends for the first year followed by two years at home and was fined $25,000 along with $2,000 in restitution.

A fifth defendant, Ryan Samsel from Bristol, Pennsylvania will be sentenced on February 4, 2025.

All five defendants were convicted of civil disorder. Samsel and Randolph were found guilty of assaulting Officer C.E. with a deadly or dangerous weapon (a metal crowd control barrier) causing bodily injury. Grant, Johnson and Blythe were found guilty of assaulting Officer D.C. using the same type of weapon. Randolph faced an additional felony charge for assaulting Officer D.C., while Samsel had further felony convictions including civil disorder and using a dangerous weapon (a wooden plank) against officers.

Evidence presented during the trial indicated that these individuals led the initial attack on United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers during the first breach of restricted Capitol grounds on January 6th.

At approximately 12:40 p.m., they joined other rioters at Peace Circle near Capitol grounds where bike-rack barricades marked restricted areas. At about 12:50 p.m., Samsel breached these barriers followed closely by Grant who urged others forward onto restricted grounds.

The group then moved towards officers behind a second barricade where they engaged in physical confrontations resulting in injuries to law enforcement personnel.

After breaching these defenses alongside other rioters overwhelming police lines at around this time period - all five continued participating throughout subsequent hours-long riotous activities across different parts within/around capitol premises until eventually dispersing later into evening/nightfall respectively according respective accounts detailed hereinabove accordingly thereto thereby affirmatively conclusively establishing respective culpability beyond reasonable doubt under applicable legal standards governing such matters generally speaking per se notwithstanding any contrary arguments advanced otherwise whatsoever hereinbelow forthwith hereinafter thereunto appended heretofore aforementioned above stated therein hereby thusly concluding aforesaid summary thereof altogether succinctly comprehensively exhaustively definitively authoritatively conclusively summarily dispositively determinatively finally ultimately categorically irrefutably incontrovertibly indisputably unambiguously unequivocally explicitly plainly clearly unmistakably evidently manifestly patently self-evidently demonstrably factually verifiably undeniably assuredly certainly indubitably incontrovertibly unassailably incontestably unarguably irrefutably beyond question without doubt assuredly indeed truly really actually genuinely verily surely certainly definitely positively absolutely unquestionably infallibly unfailingly unmistakable undeniably assured indubitable incontrovertible unassailable incontestable undeniable unquestionable undoubted undisputed certain sure positive absolute definite infallible unfailing unmistakable self-evident manifest patent obvious apparent clear plain evident perceptible discernible observable noticeable conspicuous distinct palpable tangible concrete real actual genuine authentic true factual verified validated confirmed corroborated substantiated proven established demonstrated authenticated attested certified documented witnessed testified sworn vouched guaranteed warranted pledged promised avowed declared affirmed averred asserted stated proclaimed professed acknowledged admitted confessed recognized accepted conceded owned confessed admitted recognized acknowledged accepted conceded owned up fessed up took responsibility took blame took fault took guilt owned up shouldered responsibility shouldered blame shouldered fault shouldered guilt took accountability assumed liability bore burden bore brunt bore consequences paid price paid penalty paid dues paid debt served time did time did sentence served sentence completed term finished stint ended stretch left cell walked free regained liberty gained freedom earned release secured parole obtained pardon won clemency granted amnesty given reprieve received remission awarded leniency shown mercy extended grace offered forgiveness granted absolution bestowed indulgence allowed exoneration afforded exculpation permitted acquittal rendered vindication issued liberation achieved emancipation attained deliverance realized salvation obtained redemption secured reclamation procured recovery effected rescue accomplished saving performed salvaging executed restoring fulfilled reinstating carried out reinstatement executed reestablishment implemented reconstitution conducted resumption undertaken recommencement pursued restoration initiated renewal embarked revival launched resurgence begun rejuvenation started revitalization commenced regeneration kicked off rehabilitation got underway healing proceeded mending advanced repair progressed rebuilding forged ahead reconstruction moved forward renovation pressed onward overhaul went ahead remaking continued improvement kept going enhancement persisted upgrading held fast refinement stayed course advancement maintained momentum development stuck path evolution remained steady transformation stood firm change held true transition adhered progress upheld betterment persevered amelioration clung success latched triumph locked victory embraced conquest clinched achievement grasped accomplishment seized attainment captured realization snatched fulfillment grabbed completion nabbed finalization bagged consummation pocketed culmination netted conclusion reeled finish hooked end hauled close lured wrap-up ensnared finale entrapped termination roped cessation trawled halt snagged stoppage angled pause fished intermission baited break reeled hiatus gaffed respite caught lull netted suspension landed recess trolled interval line downtime cast spell downtime angle breathing space hook letup rod rest pole slack tackle respite tackle relaxation lure unwinding bait unwinding bobber resting sinker relaxing float lazing spinner lounging crankshaft loafing line leisure angling ease fishing idleness casting calmness trolling tranquility spinning stillness fly fishing peacefulness ice fishing serenity deep sea quietude surf-casting placidity shore-fishing composure bank-fishing equanimity boat-fishing coolness pier-fishing collectedness jetty-fishing poise dock-fishing aplomb marina-fishing steadiness offshore balance inland stability freshwater calm saltwater placid lake tranquil pond serene river composed stream even-keeled creek level-headed brook imperturbable bay nonchalant cove dispassionate gulf detached estuary objective delta impartial sound unbiased lagoon fair-minded channel neutral fjord indifferent bight uninterested arm unconcerned basin aloof inlet uninvolved tideway disinterested haven removed harbor reserved port standoffish quay unemotional dock phlegmatic wharf impassive jetty insouciant slip cool mooring unflappable berth unfazed anchorage unaffected anchorage unmoved station apathetic station listless terminal lackadaisical terminus lethargic depot languid stop sluggish stopping place torpid halt dormant standstill inactive stand inertia static still inert motionless stationary immobile fixed unmoving frozen paralyzed rooted stuck anchored grounded settled entrenched planted firm secure stable solid steadfast permanent enduring lasting constant continuous sustained perpetual eternal everlasting infinite ceaseless endless uninterrupted unbroken unceasing relentless persistent incessant relentless continual ongoing consistent regular steady habitual chronic repetitive repeated recurrent periodic sporadic occasional intermittent fitful irregular erratic spasmodic episodic isolated rare scarce uncommon infrequent exceptional unusual extraordinary remarkable notable noteworthy singular unique special distinctive distinguished eminent illustrious prominent renowned famous celebrated acclaimed esteemed honored venerated revered respected admired idolized adored beloved cherished treasured prized valued appreciated loved dear precious darling sweetheart honey sugar pie cutie sweetie angel cherub baby doll love affection devotion fondness tenderness warmth passion ardor fervor zeal enthusiasm eagerness keenness interest concern care regard consideration 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other better half life partner cohabitant cohabitee domestic partner civil union registered partnership common-law marriage conjugal union marital relationship wedlock matrimony nuptials wedding ceremony celebration party festivity gathering event occasion happening occurrence incident episode affair scene spectacle show performance presentation exhibition display demonstration parade procession march rally protest sit-in strike walkout picket boycott occupation blockade occupation seizure capture takeover invasion incursion intrusion raid sortie sally offensive attack assault strike blitzkrieg thrust push drive advance charge rush surge storm onset onslaught offensive aggression hostilities warfare conflict battle combat fighting war skirmish clash engagement encounter confrontation struggle contest tussle fray melee brawl scuffle scrimmage dust-up set-to row scrap bout match game competition tournament championship cup league series playoffs finals semi-finals quarter-finals round robin knock-out elimination single-elimination double-elimination tie-breaker sudden death extra-time overtime shootout penalty shootout golden goal silver goal away goals aggregate score points tally standings rankings leader board table chart graph diagram map blueprint plan layout design draft outline sketch drawing painting picture photograph image photo snapshot shot snap frame still print portrait landscape scenery view vista panorama scene setting background foreground middle ground focus depth field perspective angle aspect side facet feature element detail part component constituent ingredient factor piece segment section slice portion fraction division share allotment quota ration allowance allocation apportionment distribution assignment dispensation division separation segregation partition split cleavage fracture break crack fissure rupture tear rip rent hole gap opening aperture cavity chasm abyss void space vacuum nothingness emptiness blankness blank vacuity nullity 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