Supreme Court ruling on Jan. 6 charges could impact several Ohioans
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A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding how those charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol could have an impact on several Ohioans' cases, including one who was released from prison early.
The 6-3 ruling issued Friday by the Supreme Court determined that a new review from a lower court was needed to determine if the U.S. Department of Justice had improperly filed obstruction charges against about one-quarter of the more than 1,400 people charged in the attack on the Capitol.
The decision could have impacts on the sentences of some of those defendants, about 350 nationwide, who were convicted of obstruction for disrupting Congress' certification of Joe Biden's electoral college victory over Donald Trump in the November 2020 general election.
Related Jan 6 article: Six Ohioans sentenced for their part in the Jan. 6 insurrection on U.S. Capitol
In a statement after the Supreme Court's ruling, Attorney General Merrick Garland said there were no cases where a Jan. 6 defendant had only been charged with obstruction. The DOJ will review any cases potentially impacted, he said.
Ohioans sentenced for their roles on Jan. 6
At least five Ohioans who have already been sentenced for their roles on Jan. 6 could have their sentences included in that review. A total of more than 60 Ohioans have been charged in connection with the Capitol assault.
Federal court records show Dustin Thompson, of Columbus; John D. Wright, of Canton; Christine Priola, of Willoughby; and Donovan Crowl, of Champaign County, all received prison sentences on an obstruction charge.
Ethan Seitz, of Bucyrus, had his sentencing hearing stayed until the decision was made in Friday's case. Seitz has pleaded guilty to obstruction, court records show.
One Ohioan, Alexander Sheppard, 24, of Powell, was released from federal prison, where he had been serving a 19-month sentence after convictions on multiple charges, while the Supreme Court decision was pending.
Other Ohio defendants were charged with obstruction, according to court records, but received sentences on other charges that even if the obstruction charge was dismissed, the sentence would remain unchanged.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Supreme Court ruling on Jan. 6 charges could impact several Ohioans
