U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell testified Friday throughout the sentencing of a Jan. 6 rioter who attacked him that day, recounting the assault, the accidents he suffered from the riot, and telling the decide he felt the rioter, Duke Wilson, would do it once more.
U.S. District Decide Royce Lamberth sentenced Wilson, 68, to 51 months behind bars for assaulting law enforcement officials throughout some of the violent battles between rioters and law enforcement officials that day.
Through the assault, Wilson made his method to the West Terrace tunnel, the place an hours-long battle between police and rioters happened. Within the tunnel, he used what prosecutors consider was a PVC pipe to jab at police.
"Each my arms had been bleeding by that point from blocking his blows," Gonell instructed the court docket.
"He used his fists, and viciously threw a number of punches and used his physique to push by way of the police line as effectively," Gonell mentioned, including that he felt Wilson would do the identical factor once more if given the prospect.
"He won't hesitate. He'll assault me and my fellow officers time and again. Similar to he did on that day," Gonell -- who says he's nonetheless recovering from accidents and subsequent surgical procedures from that day -- instructed the court docket.
Earlier than handing down the sentence, Lamberth instructed Wilson he "made a horrible mistake," including "that was a horrible day for our nation."
Through the assault, Wilson additionally tried to take a riot protect away from police and pushed an officer to the bottom.
"I made a really unhealthy resolution going into that place that day," Wilson instructed the court docket, including that he didn't bear in mind attacking the officers and that he had been hit within the tunnel.
"A number of the movies they confirmed me, I simply cannot consider I used to be doing that," he mentioned. "I do not even bear in mind strolling into the tunnel."
Wilson, who wore a hat with the phrases "CNN Pretend Information" throughout the riot, pleaded responsible to assaulting police and obstructing an official continuing in September.
Wilson is one in every of six Capitol rioters convicted of assaulting a police officer so far. In accordance with the Justice Division, greater than 230 individuals have been charged with assaulting or impeding legislation enforcement.
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