WASHINGTON, DC – Shane Jenkins, a 45-year-old from Houston, Texas, was sentenced today for various charges stemming from his actions during the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021. This breach interrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of validating the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta sentenced Jenkins to 84 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Additionally, Jenkins has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $5,176. He was found guilty of seven felonies and two misdemeanors, including assaulting law enforcement with a deadly or dangerous weapon, in a jury trial that took place in the District of Columbia in March.
Evidence presented during the trial, including court documents and video footage, revealed that Jenkins traveled from Houston to Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021. He intended to disrupt the certification of the electoral college results. Before his journey, Jenkins made several posts on social media where he discussed violent intentions and contemplated bringing weapons.
Indeed, as per his posts, Jenkins arrived in Washington, D.C., carrying a metal “Sog” brand tomahawk axe. On the day of the breach, Jenkins was present at a rally before making his way to the Capitol. At the Capitol, he engaged in violent actions, including attacking a window with his tomahawk and encouraging other rioters. His actions inspired others to vandalize and assault officers on the scene.
Jenkins’s engagement didn’t stop there. He aggressively confronted officers at the Tunnel entrance, launching various objects at them, which included a wooden drawer, a flagpole, and more. Subsequent to the riot, Jenkins openly boasted about his deeds on social media, confirming his intention to disrupt the election certification process. He was arrested in Houston on March 5, 2021.
Jenkins’s convictions encompass a wide range of charges, such as obstructing Congress, attacking law enforcement officers with a weapon, destroying government property, and more. Additionally, he was found guilty of two misdemeanors related to his conduct within the Capitol building and its premises.