Air Force veteran gets probation for entering Capitol on Jan. 6

INDIANAPOLIS — A man from Vincennes, Indiana has been sentenced to three years’ probation for his part in the Jan. 6 riot during which the crowd stormed the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols spared Jonathan Ace Sanders prison time after Sanders pleaded guilty this month to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Three other charges were dropped as a result.

The judge denied the government’s request to put Sanders on home detention for two months. Prosecutors contended that as a military veteran — Sanders served in the Air Force — that Sanders was well aware of the potential danger of his “violent entry into the Capitol.”

Feds seek tougher sentences for veterans who stormed Capitol

Do troops and veterans deserve leniency because they served their country or tougher punishment because they swore an oath to defend it?

By Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press

The Indianapolis Star reports that video footage showed Sanders in the Capitol that day. But the FBI investigation in Sanders’ activities began after it received a tip that Sanders was in a Vincennes bakery bragging about being within 70 feet of protester Ashli Babbitt when Capitol police fatally shot her.

The 61-year-old Sanders told investigators he drove to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 5 with two friends to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally to support President Donald Trump, who lost re-election the previous November. He said he followed a crowd into the Capitol and “also heard that a lady was shot.”

Sanders also must pay a $500 fine and perform 60 hours of community service.

More In Veterans

This week in Congress: Memorial Day marks the start of summer — and a busy month of budget work

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of May 23, 2022.

How the last VFW post in one city is shaking things up

New Orleans’ last remaining Veterans of Foreign Wars post is breaking the mold.

Watchdog could subpoena former VA workers under plan approved by Congress

Currently the VA inspector general cannot force former employees to detail problems or crimes they saw during their tenure at the department.

Thai archival find may resolve fate of missing WWII US pilot

The remains of an American airman missing in World War II may be heading home, thanks to a chance discovery of records in flood-threatened archives in Thailand.

Burn Pits

Senators reach deal to advance sweeping military toxic exposure legislation

The measure could be passed out of the chamber in the next few weeks and become law later this summer.

In Other News

Lawmakers urge DoD to take action to curb rising commissary prices

Stop requiring commissaries to make a profit, lawmakers say.

Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group deploys from Yokosuka

During its last deployment, which concluded in October, the Reagan not only operated in U.S. 7th Fleet but also 5th Fleet to support the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces from Afghanistan.

IPPS-A rollout still on track after initial delay, Army says

The Army says its new master human resources platform is on track for full implementation Sept. 30.

Blue Star Museums again offering free admission to troops, families all summer

Participating museums are offering free admission to military families from May 21 through Sept. 5.

Wildfire monitoring, other state missions in jeopardy without a Space Guard, these officials say

Space Force officials want to move away from the traditional Guard and Reserve. These colonels say that's a bad idea.

Army makes new cohesion assessment teams permanent

The teams use focus groups and on-the-ground interviews to dig deeper than traditional climate surveys.

Navy investigating drowning death of research lab civilian

Wesley Goode died earlier this month in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Military commands spent pandemic money on space analytics, IT upgrades

The U.S. military commands responsible for North America misused at least $19 million in COVID-19 relief money on space-related data analytics connected to the Pentagon’s JADC2 endeavor, as well as office information technology upgrades, investigators said.

Putin complains about barrage of cyberattacks

Putin charged that “an outright aggression has been unleashed against Russia, a war has been waged in the information space.”

Commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 ousted due to ‘loss of confidence’

Cmdr. Brett Johnson has been temporarily reassigned to the staff of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic.