Judge Sentences Michigan Man To Time Served In Capitol Riots

ACROSS MICHIGAN — A federal judge sentenced a Michigan man to time served behind bars Wednesday for his involvement in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots. Karl Dresch, a Calumet resident in the Upper Peninsula, is now a free man. He'd been locked up since his arrest in January.

In court, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson did not hold back, telling Dresch that he was an “enthusiastic participant” in an effort to subvert the will of the voters. She also told Dresch that he “placed his trust in someone who repaid that trust by lying to him.”

Because of a deal with prosecutors, Dresch was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor. The judge called the move appropriate since his “actions didn’t match his rhetoric” and he didn’t hurt anyone or destroy anything at the Capitol.

According to federal court documents, Dresch posted that he was going to D.C. and that he was "prepared for chemical attacks and what not." He also urged others to take similar actions to the Jan. 6 riots, posting, "NO EXCUSES! NO RETREAT! NO SURRENDER! TAKE THE STREETS! TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY!" documents revealed.

Authorities said that while inside the U.S. Capitol, Dresch posted a photo of himself holding a Donald Trump flag while standing beside a statue of John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, vice president from 1825 to 1832 who defended slavery.

In separate posts, documents show Dresch called the day a "Total Victory" and saying "I'm excited!"

Federal authorities said Dresch also posted photos to social media, including jokes about police using tear gas at the Capitol, which ultimately led authorities to him.

"I love masks now," he wrote in one post.

Dresch is the son of Stephen Dresch, who was a dean at Michigan Technological University and a Republican state lawmaker from 1991-92.

The Associated Press and Patch editor Joey Oliver contributed to this article.