- Christopher Worrell of Naples, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
- Mr. Worrell disappeared under house arrest before his originally scheduled sentencing date.
- Worrell faked a drug overdose when he was caught attempting to “sneakly return” to his home.
A member of the Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for fleeing after being convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and for allegedly fabricating a drug overdose after his arrest. received the verdict.
Christopher Worrell, who was convicted of assaulting police with pepper spray, was under house arrest in Naples, Florida, when he disappeared in August, ahead of his original sentencing date.
Prosecutors said he was discovered six weeks later after “trying to secretly return” to his home. He appeared to be unconscious and was hospitalized for five days for treatment of an apparent opioid drug overdose, but prosecutors allege he faked his symptoms to further delay his sentencing.
Former Proud Boys leader sentenced to six prison terms in January
Mr Worrell has a rare type of lymphoma and said he feared the cancer treatment he would receive during his long sentence would kill him from the disease. He also claimed that he faked an overdose.
“I took this action out of severe emotional distress and pure fear for my life,” he said. “I am truly sorry. I hope that you can forgive me in your heart.”
Prosecutors had asked for a 14-year prison sentence for assault, obstruction of Congress, and other charges. They argued that he should receive a longer prison term for escaping from house arrest and falsely claiming thousands of dollars in overtime for the sheriff's deputy assigned to monitor the overdose. FBI agents also found night vision goggles, $4,000 in cash and survival supplies in the home, authorities said.
Mr. Worrell was previously incarcerated at a prison in Washington, D.C., but was released in November 2021 after a judge vindicated his civil rights claims regarding his treatment in prison. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth found D.C. prison officials in contempt of court after finding that treatment for Worrell, who suffered a broken bone, was delayed.
A portion of the statement of facts regarding Christopher Worrell was photographed. (AP Photo/John Elswick, File)
Lamberth said Thursday that he hopes Worrell's complaint and its response will lead to systemic reform and ensure that he receives proper cancer treatment in prison, but that his crimes still merit a heavy sentence.
“This is a difficult case for me,” Lamberth said.
Worrell, 52, was found guilty by a jury of assaulting police officers with pepper spray as a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Worrell wore his tactical vest and bragged that he was “fully deployed,” authorities said. “I can do it,” he said, calling the police officers “communists” and “scum.”
Prosecutors said Worrell also lied on the stand at trial, claiming he was actually spraying other rioters. Prosecutors said in court documents that the judge called the allegations “ridiculous.”
Meanwhile, Worrell's attorney said his client brought the spray gel and tactical vest to Washington for defensive purposes because of past violence between Proud Boys and counterprotesters. Attorney William Shipley said the chaotic scene at the Capitol “could have led to misunderstandings that created inaccuracies” in Worrell's testimony at trial.
Federal authorities have identified more than 30 people charged in the Capitol attack as leaders, members or associates of the Proud Boys, which members say is a political organization for “Western chauvinists.” It is explained that it is an incorrect men's club.
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Enrique Tarrio, former national president of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in September 2023, the longest sentence ever handed down for the January 6 attack. Tarrio and three other Proud Boys associates were found guilty of sedition and conspiracy in what prosecutors said was a plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Ta.
