A 54-year-old man from Florida could be sentenced to five years in prison for attacking police officers with a wooden plank and fire extinguisher on January 6.
Robert Palmer pleaded guilty to attacking law enforcement with dangerous weapons. According to a court document signed by Palmer, he threw a wooden panel at police officers who were protecting an archway that led inside the Capitol from the lower West Terrace.
After confronting the officers, Palmer sprayed a fire extinguisher in their direction until it was empty. He threw the fire extinguisher at the officers. It was thrown with enough force to cause a serious bodily injury.
Robert Palmer threw a fire extinguisher.
The US Attorney's Office is in Washington, DC.
The most violent battles of the insurrection took place near Palmer. Officer Michael Fanone was attacked while protecting the West Terrace during the riot.
A maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine is what Palmer faces. He has shown a lack of remorse despite pleading guilty, so prosecutors recommended he be sentenced to 63 months in prison.
"Palmer's statements suggest a lack of remorse for his conduct, a tenuous relationship with truth, and a willingness to repeat falsehoods for personal benefit," Robert Juman wrote.
The five-year sentence was at the low end of possible sentence lengths, thanks to Palmer, who pleaded guilty early.
More than 700 people have been charged in the Capitol riot. Jacob Chansley, also known as the "QAnon Shaman," has received the longest sentence so far.
