Actor Jay Johnston, known for 'Bob's Burgers,' has been sentenced to a year in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The actor pled guilty to obstructing officers and faces additional penalties, including supervised release and restitution.
- The Capitol riots continue to have consequences
- Actor Jay Johnston was found guilty of attending
- THIS is his sentence now
Jay Johnston's Legal Battle Over Capitol Riot Involvement
Actor Jay Johnston, recognized for his comedic roles in 'Bob's Burgers' and 'Arrested Development,' has been sentenced to a year in prison following his participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Court documents reveal that Johnston, 56, pled guilty to a felony charge of obstructing officers during a civil disorder, leading to his sentencing on Monday.
Post-sentencing, Johnston will undergo 24 months of supervised release and is required to pay 2,000 in restitution along with a special assessment. Initially arrested in Los Angeles in June 2023, the actor faced multiple charges, including civil disorder and impeding passage through Capitol grounds. However, these charges were later dismissed.
In 2023, Johnston, along with several associates, was charged with disorderly conduct and entering restricted grounds during the Capitol riot. The FBI identified Johnston through images captured in public videos and police footage, showing him pushing against police and assisting other rioters. Prosecutors noted that his actions resulted in bodily injury to an officer.
According to prosecutors, Johnston's actions caused "bodily injury" to an officer, per the plea offer issued in June. The document also noted one of the former associates presented the FBI with text messages from Johnston about the riot. He reportedly wrote: "The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn't. (Though) it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed …" the document stated.
A statement of facts document detailed text messages from Johnston, where he described the riot as a "mess" and mentioned being maced and tear-gassed. Flight records confirmed Johnston's travel from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., during the period of the insurrection.
Since the Capitol incident, Johnston has faced significant career repercussions. According to his attorney, he "was subsequently publicly dropped from various projects and has effectively been blacklisted by the film and television industry." This professional decline pushed Johnston to work as a handyman for the past two years.
In a sentencing memorandum, Johnston's attorney highlighted his role as a caregiver to his autistic daughter, stressing that he is "the most stable caregiver in her life." Due to his personal circumstances and career struggles, Johnston's attorney requested a reduced sentence of four to 10 months.
Jay Johnston's career includes a range of roles in popular television series. He is best known for voicing Jimmy Pesto in 'Bob's Burgers' and portraying "Officer Taylor" in 'Arrested Development.'
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His other notable roles include "Mr. Goodman" in 'Mr. Pickles' and "Officer Jay McPherson" in 'The Sarah Silverman Program.' Johnston has also appeared in 'Better Call Saul,' 'Modern Family,' and 'Rick and Morty.'
