Ex-Police Chief Receives 11-Year Sentence for Role in January 6 Capitol Attack

Former California police chief Alan Hostetter, who brought a hatchet to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and had previously made speeches advocating for the execution of his political foes, was handed an 11-year prison sentence on Thursday. The sentence, totaling 135 months, was imposed by US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth for his role in the Capitol riot.

Hostetter was convicted in July on charges of conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, obstructing an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon, and disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon. Before the Capitol riots, the former La Habra police chief had spread multiple conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, as reported by the Justice Department.

Hostetter was involved in sponsoring a pro-Trump rally and engaging in violent speeches in DC on January 5, the day before the Capitol riot. The Department of Justice reported that he arrived at the Capitol the next day equipped with tactical gear, a helmet, hatches, knives, stun batons, pepper spray, and other items. He met with other members of the "DC Brigade" upon arrival and took part in the "Stop the Steal" rally before participating in the riot at the Capitol building.

Hostetter was apprehended by the FBI in California on June 10, 2021. In November, four of his co-defendants were found guilty of conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding. In addition, Russell Taylor, a fifth co-defendant, had previously admitted to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding.

CNNs Paul Murphy and Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.