Evergreen Reporter

A New York man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. James Weeks, 55, from Sodus, New York, was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,774 in restitution along with a $5,000 fine. The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell after Weeks pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

Court documents reveal that Weeks was recorded entering the Lower West Terrace Tunnel at around 3:02 p.m. on January 6. This area was part of the stage construction for the Presidential Inauguration and witnessed some of the most violent clashes with law enforcement that day. Weeks reportedly moved through a crowd towards the police line and attempted to grab an officer while shouting obscenities.

Further actions by Weeks included pushing open a door to allow more rioters access to the police line inside the Tunnel and physically striking an MPD officer. After being sprayed with a chemical irritant by another rioter, Weeks exited the Tunnel and later joined others outside on the Upper West Terrace in damaging windows.

The FBI arrested Weeks on February 1, 2024, in Albany, New York. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section with assistance from various other agencies.

In total, over 1,504 individuals have faced charges related to the Capitol breach across nearly all states since January 6, 2021. Among these are more than 560 individuals charged with felonies involving assaults on law enforcement officers.

The investigation into these events continues, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities via their hotline or website.