US defendant gets longest prison sentence of 14 years in Jan. 6 Capitol riots case

By Betul Yuruk

NEW YORK (AA) - A defendant in the US was sentenced to 14 years in prison Friday for attacking police officers with pepper spray during Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

Peter Schwartz from the state of Kentucky, who has a long criminal record, received the longest sentence so far in Jan. 6 cases, according to The Associated Press.

Prosecutors had asked for more than 24 years in prison for Schwartz.

Five people died from violence on Jan. 6, and the Capitol building was badly damaged. Four law enforcement officers died by suicide in the aftermath.

The attack marked the first time the Capitol had been occupied since British forces torched it during the War of 1812.