The Donald Trump supporter who had encouraged a raucous crowd to go to the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 and was later targeted by a right-wing conspiracy theory that he was a federal plant will not serve any time behind bars.
Ray Epps, 62, was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation for participating in the riot at the Capitol, in which hordes of Trump supporters angry over Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral win overwhelmed law enforcement and violently forced their way into the building as Congress was certifying the results, as required by the U.S. Constitution.
“Defendant sentenced to twelve (12) months Probation, a $25 Special Assessment, and Restitution totaling $500,” the docket read Tuesday following Epps’ sentencing before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, a Barack Obama appointee. The docket noted that Epps appeared via Zoom and was not present in the courtroom.
Boasberg did not place any travel restrictions on Epps, The Associated Press reported. The sentence reflected what Epps and his lawyer had requested, and rejected the federal government’s argument that he deserved six months of jail time.
Originally from Arizona, Epps has said that he and his wife were forced to sell their property and business and flee their home after facing threats to their safety over the so-called “false flag” theory that accuses Epps of being an agent of the federal government. They now reportedly live in a trailer in the woods.
Boasberg reportedly expressed sympathy for the man’s situation.
“You were hounded out of your home,” the judge said, according to The Associated Press. “You were hounded out of your town.”
Boasberg reportedly said that he hoped the threats against Epps and his wife would subside. For his part, Epps said that he shouldn’t have believed what he saw on Fox News, including false statements that the election was stolen from Trump. Epps has blamed Fox and former host Tucker Carlson — from whom he sought an apology — and has since filed a defamation lawsuit against the network.
“I have learned that truth is not always found in the places that I used to trust,” he said, according to AP.
Hellbound and Down 