Florida man gets 8 months in prison in U.S. Capitol attack

A federal judge on Monday dealt an eight-month prison sentence to Paul Hodgkins for the Florida man’s role in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack, making him the first among more than 500 people facing criminal charges in the riot to be incarcerated. 

Hodgkins, 38, pleaded guilty on June 2 to one felony count of obstruction of an official proceeding, as Congress was in the process of formally certifying Joe Biden’s election last November as U.S. president when supporters of then-President Donald Trump rampaged through the building.

Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss to impose a sentence of 18 months in prison. Hodgkins’ lawyer, Patrick Leduc, had urged that his client serve no prison time.

During a sentencing hearing, Hodgkins told Moss he is “remorseful and regretful” for his actions and acknowledged that his conduct may have emboldened others to engage in destructive acts.