Jan. 6 rioter who cursed out cops and smashed U.S. Capitol window with flagpole is heading to prison

Source: Law & Crime

Jan 12th, 2025, 6:22 pm


A Jan. 6 rioter from Illinois who cursed out cops and used a flagpole to smash up a window — shouting “f—ing traitors” and “f—ing communist scum” while storming in and out of the U.S. Capitol building — is heading to prison and paying for the damages. Justin LaGesse, 37, of McLeansboro, was sentenced Friday to 11 months in prison and ordered to pay $43,315 in restitution by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, according to the Department of Justice. He also got hit with 12 months of supervised release.

LaGesse, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of destruction of government property last September, was accused of storming the Capitol with another defendant, Theodore Middendorf, who also pleaded guilty to destruction of government property and is awaiting sentencing. The pair allegedly smashed up a window near the “North Door” of the Capitol after attempting to get inside, according to court documents.

“While police officers attempted to stop these rioters, Middendorf and LaGesse approached a large window to the left of the North Door,” their criminal complaint says. “The two then used their flagpoles to strike the window numerous times and damaged the window in several places.”

The pair allegedly went in and out of the Capitol, harassing cops along the way, according to DOJ prosecutors. They spent some time in the “Senate Wing Door” lobby area after entering through a broken window, per the complaint, and were caught on surveillance video carrying flags and waving them while chanting “U.S.A.” repeatedly.

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/f-ing-communist-scum-jan-6-rioter-who-cursed-out-cops-and-smashed-u-s-capitol-window-with-flagpole-is-heading-to-prison-paying-for-the-damages/