(DailyVantage.com) – Alan Hostetter, a retired law enforcement chief in California, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for his involvement in the January 6 riots at the Capitol.
According to prosecutors who argued against Hostetter, the former police chief often called for violence against the government leading up the January 6 riots. Prosecutors presented footage of Hostetter telling a crowd to “choke that city (Washington, D.C.) off”. In a different speech, he also called on supporters to make members of congress afraid of being dragged out by their hair and “tied to a f***** lamp post”. He also told crowds that there “must be a reckoning” and that Trump should be inaugurated as president.
The 11-year prison sentence was handed down by US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, and was slightly lower than the original 12 and a half years the prosecution wanted.
Hostetter led supporters of former president Donald Trump based in Southern California through a group called American Phoenix Project, which prosecutors say looked very similar to other (more infamous) groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.
Hostetter was charged with trespassing with a deadly weapon and obstruction of an official preceding. During the riot, Hostetter reportedly brought pepper spray and knives, and was decked out in tactical gear while shouting slogans into a bullhorn.
Prior to his sentencing, Hostetter doubled down on claims that election fraud occurred in order to cheat against Trump. He decided to represent himself during the bench trial, where he repeated those claims, even alleging that a former friend who flipped on him was simply part of a massive global conspiracy. He also claimed that he was “manipulated” into participating in the rally by supposed underground agents and informants for the government.
FBI agents arrested Hostetter in California on June 10, 2021.
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