(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Prison sentences aplenty: Oath Keepers see dates set for sentencing [1] ['Daily Kos Staff', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-06 For their roles in conspiring to stop the nation’s transfer of presidential power by force on Jan. 6, 2021, former Oath Keeper founder and ringleader Elmer Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of seditious conspiracy on Nov. 29 alongside Florida Oath Keeper division leader Kelly Meggs. The charge of seditious conspiracy alone carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence. Whether that maximum will be the one handed down to Rhodes or Meggs respectively will be determined in the months ahead. Rhodes faces up to 60 years in prison when all of his charges are taken together. In addition to seditious conspiracy, he was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with evidence. He was acquitted, however, on the charge of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding as well as conspiracy to prevent officials from discharging their duties. Meggs was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent officers from discharging their duties, and tampering with evidence. He was acquitted only of a single charge original to his indictment: the destruction of government property. Meggs is facing a lengthy sentence of 86 years in prison if the max is meted out for every charge. x Scribd Content Oath Keeper Part I Amended ... by Daily Kos Per an order by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta filed on Feb. 2, a final report known as a presentence investigation report must be filed for Rhodes, Meggs, Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Watkins, and Kenneth Harrelson by April 21. That report shapes how a judge determines the duration of a sentence and it allows them to take other details into consideration, like a defendant’s criminal record, participation in rehabilitative programs, or cooperation with prosecutors if applicable. It is also a chance for a person to correct any inaccuracies about their misconduct as described by prosecutors though corrections are only that. This is not a chance for a person to appeal a verdict or request a new trial. Rhodes, Meggs, Caldwell, Harrelson, and Watkins have already tried this avenue. In late December, Rhodes and his co-defendants claimed the jury’s mixed bag of verdicts warranted a new trial while grousing about the high-production value of the government’s exhibits. During the trial, for example, the Justice Department used existing video footage from Jan. 6 and often highlighted the defendants with a colored outline so they would be easier to spot amid the mob. The Oath Keeper defendants felt it was unfair that the jury saw physical evidence, namely a case that held an AR-15 when a witness for the government testified about the weapons that were brought to a “quick reaction force” established at a hotel in northern Virginia. Meggs also wanted a new trial because he felt that testimony from a fellow Oath Keeper from New York, Michael Nichols, would have rebutted testimony of police officers who said the defendants did not “help” them on Jan. 6, as they claimed, or provided some other kind of assistance. Mehta found Nichols’ testimony would not have been relevant and further, it held little probative value. Oath Keepers in the Rhodes group balked at remarks in the government’s closing statements. Portions of the closing statements were inaccurate and therefore misinformed or inflamed the jury, they claimed. In response, federal prosecutors urged Mehta to deny the requests for a new trial. In January, assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy noted that all of the exhibits were properly admitted and did not go beyond summarizing information jurors needed to see or hear in a clear way. Rakoczy noted that Mehta provided a limiting instruction to jurors on this subject while the trial was ongoing anyway. Mehta told jurors that the demonstratives used by prosecutors shouldn’t be given any greater weight than they deserved. Further, testimony from Nichols would not have been an appropriate addition. “In their proffer regarding his testimony, the defendants admitted that Mr. Nichols would not testify that any of the defendants or their alleged co-conspirators joined him in or encouraged him to provide the assistance that he gave to the USCP on January 6,” Rakoczy wrote. “Nor would they proffer any coordination by this witness with the defendants and their co-conspirators,” she wrote. “In short, Mr. Nichols would not have provided any testimony about the intent of any of the defendants or their co-conspirators with respect to the offenses charged in the indictment. Accordingly, the probative value of the proffered testimony was negligible, while its potential prejudice was high. The evidence was therefore properly excluded.” Mehta sided with prosecutors and denied the request for a new trial. Once the final presentence report is completed, other documents known as sentencing memorandums will be due from prosecutors and defense attorneys by early May. If Rhodes, Meggs, Watkins, Caldwell, or Harrelson want a witness to speak on their behalf when sentencing occurs, that is their right and they will have a chance to negotiate this as well. From there, Judge Mehta has set the following sentencing dates: Elmer “Stewart” Rhodes will be sentenced on May 25 at 9:30 a.m. Thomas Caldwell will be sentenced on May 24 at 1:30 p.m. Kelly Meggs will be sentenced on May 25 at 1:30 p.m. Jessica Watkins will be sentenced on May 26 at 9:30 a.m. Kenneth Harrelson will be sentenced on May 26 at 1:30 p.m. If Mehta, a former public defender, doles out the steepest possible sentence, Watkins could face up to 56 years in prison. She may find some leniency from the judge; when she took the witness stand on her own behalf, Watkins copped to a civil disorder charge and expressed remorse. During closing statements, assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler told jurors her remorse was self-serving and too little, too late. x Watkins expressed remorse the way a person who just got caught does, Nestler says The only evidence of her remorse was her self-serving testimony now that she faces accountability for leading militia, leading effort to muscle cops out..so she herself could access senate chamber — Brandi Buchman (@Brandi_Buchman) November 21, 2022 Caldwell could serve 40 years in prison given his verdict. Harrelson could face up to 46 years. It is arguable that Caldwell could receive leniency, too. He was acquitted on all charges except for two: obstruction of an official proceeding charge and tampering with evidence. Evidence about his direct connection to the Oath Keepers was some of the most tenuous to emerge during the trial; he insisted he was never a member because he never paid dues, but prosecutors noted dues-paying wasn’t required for membership. x During trial, defendant Thomas Caldwell argued strongly that he was never a member of the OKers because he didn't pay dues. It was a thin argument and it seems to have helped him in the end. Note Rhodes reply when asked about Michael Greene (indicted): https://t.co/5Bcjl7w0p1 pic.twitter.com/c4DCEdgZtZ — Brandi Buchman (@Brandi_Buchman) December 22, 2022 A second group of Oath Keepers who went on trial for seditious conspiracy will be sentenced this June. This batch includes former Oath Keepers Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, David Moerschel, and Joseph Hackett. They were all found guilty of seditious conspiracy by a Washington, D.C., jury on Jan. 23. RELATED STORY: A quick guide on the new crop of Oath Keepers going on trial for seditious conspiracy In this case, jurors found Minuta, Hackett, Vallejo, and Moerschel guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding as well as obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to prevent a member of Congress from performing their official duties. Both Moerschel and Hackett were acquitted of their respective destruction of government property charges. Moerschel and Minuta were also acquitted of their document and/or proceeding tampering charges. Minuta and Vallejo will be sentenced at the federal courthouse in Washington on June 1. Moerschel and Hackett will be sentenced on June 2. x Scribd Content Verdict Form Oath Keepers P... by Daily Kos Another Oath Keepers trial is already shaping up now at the federal courthouse, though this case does not involve sedition charges. Jury selection has been underway since last week for Oath Keepers William Isaacs, Bennie Parker, Sandra Parker, Michael Greene, Connie Meggs, and Laura Steele. Notably, Connie Meggs is the wife of Kelly Meggs. Michael Greene, who also goes by the name Michael Simmons, testified at the first Oath Keepers trial on behalf of the defense. RELATED STORY: Day 12 of the Oath Keeper sedition trial offers juror terror by the minute The Justice Department alleges that Greene, who went by the handle “Whip” or “Whiplash,” was an “operations leader” for Oath Keepers on Jan. 6. Sandra Parker was charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties, destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and aiding and abetting. Bennie Parker, her husband, faces charges of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties, and entering and remaining in a restricted building. Connie Meggs faces the same charges as Sandra Parker except for the aiding and abetting allegation. Isaacs has a full roster: prosecutors hit the 22-year-old defendant with seven charges that also include civil disorder. According to CBS, Isaacs has already asked the judge to decide whether an expert on autism can testify on his behalf; Isaacs claims his autism diagnosis made it impossible for him to have the intent to commit the alleged crimes. Steele’s indictment notes she is charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting, entering and remaining in a restricted building, civil disorder and aiding and abetting, and tampering with documents. Greene aka Simmons was indicted on five counts including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their duties, entering and remaining in a restricted area, and tampering with documents or proceedings and aiding and abetting. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/6/2151369/-Sentencing-dates-set-for-Stewart-Rhodes-and-fellow-Oath-Keepers-another-Oath-Keeper-trial-underway Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/