December 20th 2023.
On December 19th, Charles Donohoe, the former president of the North Carolina chapter of the white supremacist Proud Boys group, was sentenced to just over three years in federal prison for his role in the January 6 insurrection. Donohoe had been in prison for nearly three years prior to his sentencing, which means he could be released as soon as February 2024.
At the sentencing hearing, Donohoe expressed his sincere remorse for his actions. He apologized to his family, law enforcement officers, and the United States of America. He also pointed out that he knew what he was doing was illegal the moment the barricades were knocked down. The prosecutors argued that Donohoe and his co-conspirators launched an attack on the heart of democracy and should be held accountable.
However, the prosecutors also recommended leniency for Donohoe, citing his acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with the prosecution. The Justice Department recommended a sentence that was significantly lower than the 70-87 month range suggested by the sentencing guidelines. This appears to be in recognition of the fact that Donohoe is attempting to distance himself from the Proud Boys and is genuinely remorseful for his actions.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly seemed to agree, telling Donohoe that he had “all the ingredients here to put this behind you.” Over 1,200 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol insurrection and 700 of them have already been sentenced. Donohoe’s defense attorney, Ira Knight, said that it took his client time to come to grips with his role in the insurrection.
The sentence given to Donohoe serves as an example of the value of cooperation with the investigation. Hopefully, the message is clear that those who accept their responsibility and cooperate with the prosecution will receive more lenient sentences.
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