Home confinement suggested for NH man in Capitol riot; defense cites 'too much Fox News'

In a screenshot from court documents, Thomas R. Gallagher, of Bridgewater, N.H., throws up his arms whlle looking in the direction of a defensive line of U.S. Capitol Police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol building. (Department of Justice court filing)


Federal prosecutors are recommending that a Grafton County man be sentenced to one month of home confinement and 60 hours of community service for participating in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, noting that he has no criminal record and appears to have stopped another rioter from throwing a chair inside the building.

For his part, Bridgewater, N.H., resident Thomas R. Gallagher says he has felt “immense shame and anxiety” for entering the Capitol and is offering to pay $500 restitution to the Architect of the Capitol. He also says he has no connections to far-right groups and began watching too much conservative news media during the 2020 presidential election.

Those assertions are included in sentencing memorandums filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., where Gallagher faces sentencing on Oct. 13.

Gallagher, who turned 62 last month, pleaded guilty in July to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a U.S. Capitol building. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped three other charges originally brought against him, including remaining in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a restricted building; and disorderly conduct in a U.S. Capitol building.

Read more: https://www.vnews.com/Documents-reveal-details-of-NH-man-at-Jan-6-insurrection-42877293
(West Lebanon Valley News)

While there are mitigating actions to consider, the sentence is still a joke. Maybe some weekend jail so that he won't have so much time at home watching Fox News?