Deadline reports film star and former Bob’s Burger actor Jay Johnston received sentencing for his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 capitol attack. Johnston is set to serve a year and a day in prison for his alleged involvement in the rioting that occurred ahead of President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. The 55-year-old actor faced a maximum of five years with a suggestion of eight to 14 months.
According to Deadline, the Anchorman actor was arrested in June of last year, surrendering to the FBI day after a warrant was issued for his arrest by the Justice Department. At the time, Johnston was charged with alleged obstruction of law enforcement performing their duties and other misdemeanors including allegedly entering a restricted area and hampering government business. He eventually was charged with civil disorder, a felony, to which he pleaded guilty.
Johnston first appeared on authorities’ radar in 2021 as the FBI asked the public’s help to identify an alleged participant at the capitol that day. Tweeting his photo on March 4, social media all but recognized Johnston as the suspect. According to Deadline, a lawyer representing Johnston contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center three days later. Soon the authorities interviewed associates of Johnston who confirmed it was him in the photo. One associate provided authorities with a text message from Johnston that acknowledged his presence at the attack stating: “The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed and I found it quite unstastic.”
Johnston was fired from Bob’s Burgers once his involvement in the attack became known. He voiced Jimmy Pesto Sr. for 43 episodes throughout the show’s first 11 seasons. His last appearance as the popular character was on May 2, 2021. Deadline reports his attorney sought less than a year in prison, stating their client was targeted because he is “an acclaimed Hollywood actor.” Unfortunately for Johnston, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols didn’t buy that argument.
According to Deadline, Johnston joins more than 1,000 arrested rioters and some 280 currently serving sentences.