3 Springfield-area men get probation for roles in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Three Springfield-area men were sentenced to probation this week for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Zachary Martin, 45, and brothers Michael Quick, 44, and Stephen Quick, 49, all of Springfield, faced a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building, but all got probation instead.
Martin was sentenced to three years probation, while the Quick brothers each got two years. The trio also each must pay a $1,000 fine and complete 60 hours of community service as well as pay $500 in restitution to cover the $1.5 million in damages to the Capitol building. Martin and Michael Quick were also ordered to undergo mental health evaluations and treatment if needed, according to court documents.
In pre-sentence documents filed with the federal court earlier this week Joe Passanise, a lawyer for all three men, wrote that the trio “felt compelled to go to Washington to promote election integrity, and nothing more.”
Passanise added in the documents that there was no master plan to enter the Capitol building on that day, and Martin and the Quick brothers simply “made a reckless decision driven by adrenaline and curiosity.”
Passanise could not be reached for comment by press time.
According to court documents, the FBI became aware that Martin had participated in the riot after multiple people submitted tips claiming that on Jan. 6, Martin had live-streamed himself inside the Capitol building.
However, Martin deleted his Facebook account before the FBI could see it, nevertheless investigators were able to review screenshots from the live stream to confirm that it was Martin in the video, and he was inside the Capitol building.
The Quick brothers both voluntarily gave their statements to the FBI in late January of 2021, according to court documents.
Michael Quick told investigators that he had traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally held on that same day with the goal “to show support so Congress would investigate irregularities in the election and do something about it.”
According to documents, Michael Quick then said he went to the Capitol building where he entered through a broken window and remained inside for about 15 minutes. He told investigators that he did not know that he was trespassing at the time because he thought the police were letting people in.
Stephen Quick also admitted to investigators that he had traveled from Missouri to Washington D.C. for the “Stop the Steal” rally. He added however that as the rally concluded and the group began moving toward the Capitol building, he said, “a change came over the crowd.” He told investigators that he entered the building and remained inside for roughly 10 minutes.
According to court documents, he also told investigators that he was “ashamed” of what he had done by going inside and submitted the SD card from a camera he had been using that day to take pictures. Court documents show that some of the photos on the SD card were taken inside the Capitol building.
Four other Springfield citizens have been charged with participating in the events of Jan. 6, including a former teacher who pleaded guilty, along with her husband, to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol Building. They were sentenced in January to home detention and 60 hours of community service.
More: Springfield couple sentenced to house detention for Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol
Nationwide, more than 700 people have been charged, and more than 100 people have pleaded guilty, in connection with the events of Jan. 6. Of those, most have received probation like Martin and the Quick brothers, but some have received incarceration sentences, the longest thus far being a Florida man who was sentenced to five years in prison.
The riot on Jan. 6 left five people dead and forced lawmakers to seek shelter, including then-Vice President Mike Pence. Following the events of that day, now-former President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives who accused him of inciting the violence at the Capitol by pushing false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
Jordan Meier covers public safety for the Springfield News-Leader. Contact her at jmeier@news-leader.com, or on Twitter @Jordan_Meier644.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 3 Springfield-area men get probation for roles in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
