MA Man Gets Prison For Jan. 6 Riot Assault Of Police: DOJ

ATHOL, MA — An Athol man who prosecutors say assaulted police during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot will serve a nearly six-year prison term.

Vincent Gillespie, 61, was found guilty in December of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, civil disorder, engaging in violence in a restricted building or ground and committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol.

Gillespie was sentenced Friday to 68 months in prison, and will have to pay a $25,000 fine, restitution of $2,000 and serve 36 months of supervised release, federal prosecutors said.

"From approximately 4:11 p.m. to 4:26 p.m., Gillespie was among rioters in the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol who engaged in pushing, shoving, yelling and fighting with [police]," the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia said in a news release. "At one point, he gained control of a police shield and used it to ram the police. He then used two hands to grab a Metropolitan Police Department sergeant by the arm, yanking him toward the mob. He then screamed 'traitor' and 'treason' at the police."

Gillespie is one of nine Massachusetts residents who have been charged for participating in the riot to prevent President Joe Biden from taking office.

Two other Massachusetts residents have been sentenced for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot. On Dec. 2, ex-Natick Town Meeting member Sue Ianni was sentenced to a short prison term; On Dec. 8, Troy Sergeant, 38, of Pittsfield, was sentenced to more than a year in prison for attacking police.

Last week, Mark Sahady, a Malden resident and organizer of the Boston "straight pride" parade, was charged with felony obstruction of an official proceeding and charges of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Sahady and Ianni were the first two Massachusetts residents arrested for participating in the riot.