This Cop Faces More Than 17 Years in Prison – Here’s His Crime
(DailyVantage.com) – In the aftermath of the January 6 riots at Capitol Hill, authorities arrested and subsequently charged hundreds of participants with crimes — with more yet to come. As the trials conclude, many are just now receiving their sentences. In the latest case, prosecutors are seeking 17.5 years for former New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Thomas Webster, found guilty of assaulting police with a flag pole. Now, he’s hoping to avoid what would be the stiffest sentence handed down to date.
In May, a jury convicted the 56-year-old on six charges, including civil disorder and felony assault. During his trial, his lawyers claimed he acted in self-defense, but the jury didn’t buy it.
DOJ seeking more than 17 year sentence for ex-NYPD officer in Jan. 6 case https://t.co/lAV2EmUpD0 pic.twitter.com/yzbzr38fvQ
— The Hill (@thehill) August 26, 2022
Now, hoping to avoid a lengthy prison stay, Webster’s attorneys say his actions that day resulted from flashbacks stemming from an incident that happened when he was a cop in the Bronx, New York. They submitted a letter from psychologist Shahla Gorovoy, who evaluated Webster and claims he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his time as a law enforcement officer and a traumatic childhood.
In the correspondence, admitted as evidence, Gorovoy said Webster’s attack resulted from a “fight or flight response.” Since the event, he has shown great remorse and guilt for his actions, saying he should have “stayed home that day.”
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