ST. GEORGE — One of three individuals from Southern Utah was sentenced Monday for his role in connection with the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021.
Willard Jake Peart, 47, of Toquerville, was sentenced in federal court on Monday on one count of disorderly conduct for parading, demonstrating or picketing on Capitol building grounds. The second charge of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority was dismissed under the terms of a plea agreement, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday.
Peart was originally indicted April 20 and was arrested by FBI agents in St. George two days later. Four days after his arrest, he was released.
Peart pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to the disorderly conduct charge, a class B misdemeanor.
According to a statement of facts filed in the case, on Jan. 6, 2021, Peart did not intend to enter the Capitol until he saw other rioters enter. According to federal prosecutors, video surveillance confirmed the defendant did not take part in the destruction government property, nor was he involved in the assault of any police officers.
During an interview with FBI agents, Peart confessed to entering the Capitol and roved the first floor while joining in with other participants chanting and calling out politicians. The defendant’s conduct, the government alleged, was disorderly and disruptive due to the fact he was parading and demonstrating loudly inside the building.
Officers asked the defendant to exit the building, and after the officers told him “he had to leave the Capitol building for a third time,” Peart complied and was escorted out of the building, the record states.
Peart later turned over his cell phone to the FBI, and according to federal documents, agents confirmed it contained only photos of the outside of the building.
On Monday, the defendant was sentenced to serve 60 days of home detention and was placed on 36 months’ probation. He was also ordered to pay $500 in restitution and complete 240 hours of community service.
The maximum sentence for the charge is six months’ incarceration and a $5,000 fine.
Tracking arrests and sentences of Jan. 6 riot
Peart is one of 695 defendants that have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds, according to a statement released April 11 by the Department of Justice.
Of the nearly 250 individuals that have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, 211 pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses, and 38 have entered guilty pleas on felony cases. Of those, 140 cases have gone to sentencing.
Of the 38 who have pleaded guilty to felony assault on police officer charges, six have been sentenced to serve prison terms of up to 63 months, according to the statement.
The justice department also states that only 140 of the nearly 800 cases have proceeded to sentencing.
While the evidence revealed that Peart’s actions caused no damage to the Capitol building, he was ordered to pay $500 in restitution in the case, which will pay, in part, the nearly $1.5 million in damages that federal prosecutors say resulted from the incident on Jan. 6.
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