On Friday, Virginia Spencer became the first defendant in North Carolina in a violent attack on the US Capitol.
Now the mothers of the five Pilot Mountains will be in prison first.
A year and a day after an unprecedented attack on national democracy, a federal judge in Washington sentenced Spencer to three months in custody, three years of probation, and $ 500 in compensation.
US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Cottery admitted that Spencer had not been violent during his family’s 30-minute stay in the Capitol. But she said Spencer’s mere presence helped hundreds of protesters fight police, plunder buildings, and leave parts of the Capitol in ruins.
Collar Cotelli also questioned Spencer’s parenting decision to expose his 14-year-old son to violence. The judge described this as “a complete lack of judgment on your part.”
“This must have been a traumatic experience to witness,” said Collar Cotelli. “I sincerely hope he’s okay.”
The hearing was held in a remote location as the COVID-19 pandemic surrounded the country. On the telephone line, participants could hear someone sobbing at the end of the hearing.
This is a developing story.
