Toquerville man sentenced for his role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
May 2, 2022, 6:54 PM
Peart posted the picture of himself on his Facebook page. (FBI)
(FBI)
WASHINGTON — A Washington D.C. federal judge sentenced a Toquerville man Monday for his role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
Willard Jake Peart, of Toquerville, was previously charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
The judge sentenced Peart to 36 months of probation, including 60 days of home detention, 240 hours of community service, and $500 in restitution.
Peart told FBI agents in an interview after the riot that he attended the Trump rally and walked to the Capitol and didn’t intend to go inside but changed his mind once he saw others doing so. Once inside the Capitol, he wrapped himself in a Trump flag and joined rioters in chanting.
“I don’t know what would have happened if I had seen Mitt Romney. It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t see him, because I would have been, who knows, I was definitely, um ya know, there. I’ve never had that much adrenaline run through my body ever, um so I don’t know,” he told agents. “I’m glad it ended the way it ended.”
Court documents said Peart continued to chant with rioters inside the Capitol but eventually left after Capitol Police ordered him to get out several times.
He was inside for about 30 minutes. He flew back to Utah the next day.
Peart surrendered to the FBI in Utah a few days after the riot.
