Former OC Police Chief Gets One Of Longest Capitol Riot Sentences

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A former La Habra Police Department Chief faces years in prison Thursday was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after he was convicted of four felonies as a result of his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Alan Hostetter, a 58-year-old yoga instructor who lives in San Clemente, was convicted July in a non-jury bench trial before U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who ruled that he was guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, court records say.

Of the more than 1,000 people charged in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, less than 10 — almost all leaders of the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers — have received longer sentences.

According to prosecutors, Hostetter and several other defendants discussed and planned a cross-country road trip to the Capitol and promoted events sponsored by Hostetter's American Phoenix Project, which opposed COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and has helped push the lie that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.

Co-defendant Russell Taylor pleaded guilty in April and was next due in court Jan. 18. Taylor faces 51 to 87 months in prison.

Four Riverside County men — Erik Scott Warner, 47, of Menifee, Felipe Antonio "Tony" Martinez, 49, of Lake Elsinore, Derek Kinnison, 41, of Lake Elsinore, and Ronald Mele, 53, of Temecula — were convicted in November and were awaiting sentencing.

To read more about the former Orange County police chief who is due to be sentenced for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, view the full article on Patch.