FL Man Sentenced To 4 Years For Role In Jan. 6 Riot

WASHINGTON, DC — A Florida man was sentenced to more than four years in prison Tuesday for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia.

Christian Matthew Manley, 27, of Fort Walton Beach, pleaded guilty in November to assaulting, resisting, and impeding law enforcement while using a dangerous weapon. As a result, he was sentenced to 50 months in jail followed by 36 months of supervised release, according to a news release.

Authorities said Manley was among thousands of former President Donald Trump supporters who marched to the U.S. Capitol to disrupt a joint session of Congress gathered to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

According to court documents, Manley was captured on video near the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol wearing a flak jacket and armed with bear spray, a collapsible police baton, and handcuffs. Authorities said he sprayed police officers with two cans of bear spray before taking a metal rod from another rioter and throwing it at police.

Authorities said Manley also "wedged his body against a wall in the tunnel" and used force to push the security door back against police officers.

In the 27 months since the attack, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, authorities said. More than 320 people have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.