Sodus man sentenced to prison for assaulting law enforcement January 6 riot

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Sodus man has been sentenced to prison following charges for his involvement with the January 6 riot in 2021.

James Weeks, 55, previously pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement during the January 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

The Department of Justice identified Weeks in footage of the Capitol riot. Weeks was accused of cursing out and assaulting a Metropolitan police officer, rallying people to push into the building, and helping smash a window of the Capitol.

Sodus man accused of taking part in Jan. 6 riot in federal court

Weeks was seen on video entering the Lower West Terrace Tunnel making his way through a crowd to the police line, which was the site of some of the most violent crime against law enforcement that day.

After reaching the police line, Weeks reached his arm through the broken pane of glass on one of the gold doors inside the tunnel to grab one of the Metropolitan Police Department officers. Weeks can then be heard yelling several threats and profanities.

Weeks then moved around police, pushing the door open, allowing more rioters access to the police line in the tunnel. Weeks then struck the MPD officer using his hands and body.

Shortly after the assault, a chemical irritant was used causing Weeks to leave the tunnel. After exiting, Weeks joined a crowd of rioters gathering outside a set of windows. Weeks then cheered on rioters as they climbed the windowsill and struck a window multiple times with a wooden stick with other rioters causing it to break.

Weeks was sentenced to 27 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,774 in restitution and a $5,000 fine by U.S. District judge Beryl Howell.

Weeks is not the first person arrested in the Western and Central New York area in connection to the riot. Although Dominic Pezzola of Rochester was found not guilty of seditious conspiracy, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Cody Mattice of Hilton and James Mault of Brockport were also sentenced.

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