Actor Jay Johnston — finest identified for his roles on Bob’s Burgers, Arrested Improvement, and Mr. Present — is headed to jail.
Johnston was arrested in June of 2023 for his function within the January 6 Capitol Constructing riots.
One month later, he pled responsible to 1 felony depend of obstructing officers throughout a civil dysfunction.
Now, Deadline is reporting that the veteran comedian and character actor has now been sentenced to 12 months and in the future in federal jail.
In keeping with court docket paperwork obtained by the outlet, Johnston flew from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021, to attend the Cease the Steal Rally.
Prosecutors alleged that Johnston watched and filmed as rioters attacked police.
They are saying he then used a stolen U.S. Capitol Police riot protect to make a “protect wall” towards the police and was a part of a bunch that pinned and crushed a police officer towards a wall.
Within the days following the riots, Johnston despatched messages to household and mates arguing that the occasions on the Capitol had been exaggerated by the media.
He additionally claimed that the state of affairs was a “setup” by the police and Antifa with the objective of concentrating on Trump supporters.
Johnston “made mild of his participation within the riot by dressing up as Jacob Chansley, generally known as the ‘QAnon Shaman,’ at a Halloween occasion that he attended.”
Now, this once-popular determine on the LA comedy scene will probably be spending the subsequent yr behind bars.
However Johnston can take solace within the state of affairs that his state of affairs may’ve been significantly worse.
Noting his “unfold of disinformation about Jan. 6” and his “lack of regret for taking part within the riot,” prosecutors initially sought a sentence of 18 months.
However along with his plea deal and good habits, the 56-year-old may very well be out of jail by mid-2025. After all, it appears unlikely that he’ll be capable to discover a lot work in his present discipline.
Johnston first burst onto the scene within the early Nineteen Nineties, portraying quite a few characters on Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’ influential sketch present Mr. Present.
He went on to star on the Sarah Silverman Program and co-starred with the comedian once more on Bob’s Burgers, the place he portrayed Jimmy Pesto on 42 episodes.
Johnston has but to talk publicly on right this moment’s sentencing.
