WASHINGTON (AP) — A New Jersey electrician who repeatedly attacked police officers during the siege of January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison by a judge who called him “a threat to our society.”
Christopher Joseph Quaglin argued with and insulted U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden before and after the judge handed him one of the longest prison sentences among hundreds of Capitol riot cases.
“You are Trump’s worst mistake of 2016,” Quaglin told McFadden, who was appointed to the court by then-President Donald Trump in 2017.
Quaglin, 38, joined the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol. He injured a police officer when he choked and knocked him to the ground. Quaglin assaulted other officers with stolen police shields, metal bike racks and pepper spray. He clashed with police for about three hours while wearing an American flag-themed “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt.
“What outrage. What a shame,” said the judge.
Quaglin complained about the conditions of his prison and promoted conspiracy theories about the January 6 siege during his rambling comments in court. He also disagreed with labeling the Jan. 6 attack an insurrection.
“If I wanted to provoke an insurrection, I would have brought a long gun,” he said.
The judge, who interrupted him after several minutes, told Quaglin that his combative comments were a “terrible idea” before sentencing.
“It’s a kangaroo court,” Quaglin replied.
Prosecutors urged the judge to sentence Quaglin to 14 years in prison. They said he was one of the most violent protesters on Jan. 6 when a mob of Donald Trump supporters disrupted the joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election election. victory.
The judge convicted Quaglin of six separate assaults on police. Prosecutors say he hit or pushed another dozen officers.
“Quaglin understood the constitutional significance of January 6 and intended to disrupt Congress’ certification of the 2020 elections by any means necessary, including violently assaulting police officers for hours,” prosecutors wrote.
Approximately 1,400 people have been charged with federal crimes in connection with the Capitol riots. Nearly 900 of them were convicted, with about two-thirds receiving prison sentences ranging from a few days to 22 years. Only seven Capitol riot defendants received a longer prison sentence than Quaglin, according to a Associated Press review of court records.
McFadden convicted Quaglin of 14 counts last July after a “stipulated trial,” meaning the judge decided the case without a jury and based on facts that both sides agreed upon before the trial. Such trials allow defendants to maintain appeal rights that are waived by a guilty plea.
Quaglin traveled from his home in North Brunswick, New Jersey, to attend then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on January 6. Leaving the rally early, Quaglin recorded video of himself as he marched to the Capitol wearing a helmet, gas mask and backpack.
After attacking barricades near the Peace Circle, Quaglin repeatedly attacked officers trying to contain the crowd. Capitol Police Sgt. Troy Robinson was injured when Quaglin grabbed him by the neck and knocked him to the ground.
“Quaglin’s attack led to a small altercation,” prosecutors wrote. “With Quaglin on top of Sergeant Robinson, other rioters came to Quaglin’s aid and chaos ensued.”
Quaglin “waged a relentless siege” as he joined other protesters in attacking police in a tunnel on the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace, prosecutors said. He helped another rioter steal an officer’s shield. He pepper-sprayed several officers in the face. And he joined the mob’s collective pressure against a police line.
“Quaglin participated in some of the most horrific attacks in the tunnel while working with other protesters to ensure that officers were under constant attack,” prosecutors wrote.
Later, Quaglin celebrated and bragged about his participation in the riot.
“It was a great time. I was bruised and bruised. And we’re having fun,” he said in a video posted on social media.
Defense attorney Kristi Fulnecky claims Quaglin received inadequate medical treatment while in prison for the past three years. Fulnecky also said that one of Quaglin’s former lawyers coerced him into accepting a stipulated court trial rather than a contested trial.
McFadden told Quaglin that his actions on January 6 were “shocking and illegal.”
“January 6 is not simply an anomaly for you,” the judge said. “You allowed it to define you.”
