First Jan 6 rioter to enter Capitol building sentenced to prison

Before traveling to Washington from his home in Cecilia, Kentucky, Sparks had written a number of messages online including “We want a civil war to be clear” and “It’s time to drag them out of Congress. It’s tyranny”.

He wrote: “TRUMP WILL BE YOUR PRESIDENT 4 more years in JESUS NAME. No need to reply to this just be ready for a lot of big events. Have radios for power loss etc. Love every body”.

His lawyers had asked for one year of house arrest and argued that Sparks, despite entering the Capitol first, was not a ringleader of the movement, but instead got swept up in events.

Prosecutors asked for a sentence of 57 months in prison.

“One might say Sparks helped light the fire that day, using his preparation and planning – including his protective body armor – to steel himself against the officers attempting to hold back the mob,” the prosecution team wrote in a pre-sentencing memo.

The investigation into the Capitol riot continues as authorities arrest and prosecute more participants. On Monday, a Utah man was arrested and charged with obstructing law enforcement, a felony, and a range of misdemeanour charges.

Hal Ray Huddleston, 66, is accused of fighting with police and using a flagpole to push against police lines.

Nearly 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the riot. Nearly 900 have pleaded guilty to various crimes, and more than 180 have been convicted at trial, according to the latest US justice department figures released earlier this month.

Trump has promised to pardon some or all of the rioters, whom he has called “hostages” and “political prisoners”, but has not given details about who he would release or the criteria he would use.