Associated Press
Two Florida men who stormed the U.S. Capitol with other members of the far-right Oath Keepers group were sentenced Friday to three years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other charges — the latest in a historic string of sentences in the Jan. 6. 2021 attack.
David Moerschel, 45, a neurophysiologist from Punta Gorda, and Joseph Hackett, a 52-year-old chiropractor from Sarasota, were convicted in January alongside other members of the antigovernment extremist group for their roles in what prosecutors described as a violent plot to stop the transfer power from former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden after the 2020 election.
Both men were among the lower-level members charged with seditious conspiracy. Moerschel was sentenced to three years in prison and Hackett got three and a half years.
All told, nine people associated with the Oath Keepers have been tried for seditious conspiracy and six were convicted of the rarely used Civil War-era charge in two separate trials, including the group’s founder Stewart Rhodes. Rhodes was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison — a record for a Jan. 6 defendant. Three defendants were cleared of the sedition charge but found guilty of other Jan. 6 crimes.
Moerschel and Hackett helped amass guns and ammunition to stash in a Virginia hotel for a so-called “quick reaction force” that could be quickly shuttled to Washington, prosecutors said. The weapons were never deployed. Moerschel provided an AR-15 and a Glock semi-automatic handgun and Hackett helped transport weapons, prosecutors said.
On Jan. 6, both men dressed in paramilitary gear and marched into the Capitol with fellow Oath Keepers in a military-style line formation, charging documents stated.
“The security of our country and the safety of democracy should not hinge on the impulses of madmen,” Justice Department prosecutor Troy Edwards said.
Moerschel told the judge he was deeply ashamed of forcing his way into the Capitol and joining the riot that seriously injured police officers and sent staffers running in fear.
Hackett similarly said he remembered feeling horrified as stepped foot in the Capitol that day: “I truly am sorry for my part in causing so much misery,” he said.
He originally joined the group after seeing vandalism at a commercial area near his house during the summer of 2020, when protests against police brutality were common, his attorney Angela Halim said. “He did not join this organization because he shared any beliefs of Stewart Rhodes,” she said.
Still, he later attended an “unconventional warfare” training, and in the leadup to Jan. 6 he repeatedly warned other Oath Keepers about “leaks” and the need to secure their communications, and later changed his online screen names, authorities have said.
“Taken together, his messages show he perceived the election as an existential threat,” said prosecutor Alexandra Hughes.
19 comments
Earl Pitts American
June 3, 2023 at 8:26 pm
Good evening America,
Soon after Ron’s inaugration, I Earl Pitts American, will hand Ron a couple of Sharpies to sign these boy’s pardons. Then I, Earl Pitts American, will personally pull these boys out of prison. Hand them the Sharpies, Pardon orders, and a big bag each filled with White House swag.
Then take the boys out for pizza and beer. Then drop them off at their homes with me, Earl Pitts American, handing each a big ‘ole Sack O Cash.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts “In Your Face Lefties” American
Elliott Offen
June 3, 2023 at 9:14 pm
Hopefully you do try something stupid and get jailed yourself. That would be the best thing for you and everyone else aside from MEDICATION.
Earl Pitts American
June 4, 2023 at 10:05 am
Thank you Smelliott,
We, Smelliott Offen and Earl Pitts American, are the best tag team EVER on social media and here at our benevolent public host, FP.
I stir them up and you gurantee an over 100% readership of our postings of great public wisdom. We have captured the coveted 100%+ readership because most will read our great wisdom many times and many K -12 schools and Colleges are including our wisdom into their teachings of our next generation of Earl Pitts Americans.
Kudos to you Smelliott
Earl Pitts “Earl & Smelliott Inc.” American
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Find Earl and Safety Check this poor feller
June 4, 2023 at 9:36 am
Qristian Nazi
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George J Kamburoff
June 5, 2023 at 10:37 am
Feel better?
That’s all you did.
George J Kamburoff
June 5, 2023 at 10:39 am
Florida is not the Sunshine State, it is the Snowflake State since kids can tell teachers they can’t teach anything which hurts their feelings!
PeterH
June 3, 2023 at 8:32 pm
Thank god neither DeSantis nor Trump will ever sit in the Oval Office …… with the ability to pardon these two American terrorist
Earl Pitts American
June 4, 2023 at 10:31 am
Good morning PeterH,
Your prayer has been cancelled because you failed to use the capital letter “G” when thanking our “Great God Allmighty Creater of The Heavans and The Earth” in your prayer.
Common rookie fail PeterH.
Pro Tip:
Statistics show such a prayer as yours typically have the reverse outcome results. So remember to show proper respect, PeterH, with the capital letter “G”.
You are welcome PeterH,
Earl Pitts “Theologian” American
Elliott Offen
June 4, 2023 at 11:29 am
Get out of here you Alex Jones troll.
bigotry starts with DeSantis
June 3, 2023 at 8:43 pm
you can almost guarantee those these individuals were the type that would’ve voted for DeSantis. And of course the Santa said he was going to potentially pardon them if he gets elected president.
Is that what this country is coming to? The Republicans are Lalas and her never held accountable.
Ed Dot Com 👍
June 3, 2023 at 9:16 pm
Need euthanasia for Trump supporters..The Villages crematoriums not taking care of this problem fast enough. They should be machine gunned in a ditch..at least the Florida Trump supporters.
Suze
June 4, 2023 at 7:50 am
Even educated Florida men are dangerous. We know that with DeathSantis but now we need to check out chiropractors and physiologists…MAGA insurrectionists are everywhere and still support attacks on our government.
Earl Pitts "America's Bestest Ever Dad" American
June 4, 2023 at 9:53 am
Good morning Susan,
Your Mom, the lovely Mrs. Earlene Pitts American, and I both know you will turn into a fine conservative around the time you turn 35 years old. Statistics prove 98% of Americans turn from liberlism at that age. We will keep praying for you Dear.
Have a great day Susan,
Earl Pitts “Dad” American
Elliott Offen
June 4, 2023 at 11:30 am
Get out of here you dumbazz.
96% of all prisoners are Christians but only 69% of the population is
June 4, 2023 at 9:34 am
Each and every Christian ends up in prison eventually, it’s in their DNA to commit crimes.
Billy the Bamboozler
June 4, 2023 at 3:03 pm
No such thing as all, nothing, everyone, and everything etc. You gotta few mental problems yourself. Probably you were abused. Florida has a large abused population… regardless of religion. Hell, the religion is the abuse if people still teaching kids creationism.
Remember When
June 6, 2023 at 10:21 am
Remember when GOP politicians talking point on J6 was that nobody was charged with sedition? LOL. Now they charged AND convicted. What’s the GOP’s J6 story now? “That never happened.” LOL again at the GOP clown car:
RONALD desantis
mitch MC connell
trump, DONALD j
Comments are closed.