“Bob's Burgers” actor Jay Johnston is sentenced to one year in prison for the Jan. 6 riot

Jay Johnston, an actor known for portraying the character Jimmy Pesto in the animated series Bob's Burgersreceived a one-year prison sentence this week for his role in the riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

On Monday, Johnston, 56, received his prison sentence from US District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington DC after previously pleading guilty in connection with the Capitol riots.

What Johnston allegedly did on January 6th

According to prosecutors, Johnston, 56, of Los Angeles, participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riots by joining with other rioters in a coordinated “heave-ho” push against officers blocking the entrance to the Capitol Tunnel guarded. Johnston also recorded the surrounding violence on his cellphone as he joked and chatted with other rioters as the chaos unfolded.

Johnston attended then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6 before marching to the Capitol. To get to West Plaza, he scaled a stone wall using a metal bike rack and eventually reached the entrance to a tunnel on Lower West Terrace, where officers were stationed.

Once in the tunnel, Johnston helped other rioters rinse chemical irritants from their eyes. At some point, another rioter gave him a stolen police shield, which he passed on to the front. According to prosecutors, Johnston then took part in the “Heave-Ho” charge against the officers, a violent action in which an officer was pushed against a door frame.

Who is Jay Johnston?

Johnston is best known for playing pizzeria owner Jimmy Pesto Sr. in the animated series Bob's Burgers. He also portrayed a police officer in Captured development and a belligerent newscaster Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Additionally, he appeared in the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and Davidwith Bob Odenkirk and David Cross.

A Chicago native, Johnston moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue acting. He was fired after the Capitol riot Bob's BurgersHe lost a role in the film adaptation of the series and was “essentially blacklisted” in Hollywood, according to his defense attorney Stanley Woodward.

Johnston's theorem

The judge sentenced Johnston to one year and one day in prison, but allowed him to remain free pending a report date. The judge acknowledged the personal impact of the sentence, noting that Johnston's incarceration will prevent him from caring for his 13-year-old daughter, who suffers from autism.

In July, Johnston pleaded guilty to interfering with police during a riot, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Prosecutors asked for an 18-month sentence for Johnston. In their sentencing memo, they included a photo of him dressed as Jacob Chansley – known as the “QAnon Shaman” for his role in the Capitol riots – at a Halloween party about two years after the attack.

Johnston expressed regret for his actions on Jan. 6, acknowledging that he “made it harder for police to do their jobs.” He added that he never expected there would be a riot that day.

“I think it was my own ignorance,” he told the judge. “If I had been more political, I might have seen this coming.”

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.