Former Williamson County Sheriff’s Deputy Ronald McAbee has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. McAbee pleaded guilty to two counts, including a felony assault charge, for dragging and punching police officers during the riot. He expressed remorse for his actions and received credit for time served since his arrest.
McAbee, who wore a bulletproof vest with a “SHERIFF” patch and a Three Percenters emblem during the riot, had assaulted an officer on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol. Despite claiming he did not intend to cause fear, Judge Rudolph Contreras noted that McAbee seemed proud of his violent actions. Prosecutor recommended a 12-year sentence for McAbee, but he received a term of five years and 10 months.
In addition to his sentence, McAbee also expressed condolences to the families of rioters and officers who died during the events. He had tried to save the life of a rioter who died during the breach. McAbee’s actions further included interfering with efforts to assist injured officers and seeking favor from law enforcement afterward.
Two other men who were convicted of assaulting the same officer received lesser sentences than McAbee. The incident is part of the larger investigation into the Capitol riot, which has led to over 1,300 people being charged with federal crimes. McAbee had been on medical leave from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office before the riot and has since been terminated from his position. More than 800 defendants in Capitol riot-related cases have been sentenced.
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