A New Jersey man who admitted to spraying pepper spray in the face of Officer Brian D. Sicknick throughout the assault of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was given a sentence of almost 7 years in jail on Friday in front of a sea of uniformed police officers.
The 80-month sentence given to Julian Khater put a stop to one of the heartbreaking cases concerning Sicknick, who passed just one day after getting pepper sprayed during the disturbance outside the Capitol.
After allegedly being charged with participating in the assault on Sicknick as well, another guy, George Tanios, pled guilty to minor crimes in July as part of a bargain with the government.
Early reports claimed that Sicknick died from his wounds; however, an examination later revealed that he passed away from natural causes after having various strokes unrelated to the violent pro-Trump riot. However, prosecutors have stated in court documents that Sicknick communicated with rioters on January 6 and that “everything that happened played a part in his condition.”
Around 50 of Sicknick’s Capitol Police coworkers arrived at the courthouse for the sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, providing an unusual spectacle that required moving a few dozen people to an overflow area. Many Sicknick family members gave emotional testimony during the hearing as well.
