Conn. submarine engineer gets 30 days in prison for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

A Connecticut submarine engineer who participated in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 was sentenced to 30 days in prison followed by two years of supervised release Wednesday, according to federal officials.

Jeremy K. Baouche, 25, of New London, earlier paid $500 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol as part of a plea agreement and a $10 special assessment fee, sentencing memos show. Baouche pleaded guilty in August to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a misdemeanor. His role in the riot, prosecutors said, consisted of “continuing to rile up a mob that had already illegally entered the building.”

Baouche, an engineer by trade, had no criminal history at the time of the riot, according to a sentencing memo. Described by his defense attorney as earnest, intense, serious, precise, thoughtful, inquisitive and “unfailing(ly) polite,” he worked on nuclear submarines at the Electric Boat naval base in Groton, the memo stated.

“Having lost that job, he is now employed by another large Connecticut defense contractor in an engineering role,” the memo stated, without naming Baouche’s new employer.

Baouche’s defense said his participation in the riot was precipitated by a years-long political awakening. In the days and weeks before and after the riot, Baouche, then 23, conducted internet searches on his work computer for topics such as the inauguration, the U.S. Capitol Building layout, rifle scopes, Donald Trump protests and “FBI Capitol,” according to a sentencing memo. Sometime between Nov. 22, 2020 and Dec. 26, 2020, the memo stated, he purchased a rechargeable megaphone battery and a 50-watt “siren bullhorn speaker” that came with a detachable microphone and lightweight strap.

On Jan. 5, 2021, Baouche traveled from his New London home to Washington to attend a rally, according to a sentencing memo. He allegedly told FBI agents last June that he wanted to attend because he believed the election results were fraudulent.

The following day, Baouche entered the Capitol Building through the Upper West Terrace, an entrance off-limits to tourists, around 2:35 p.m. as alarms blared, according to a sentencing memo. Baouche began walking north around 2:40 p.m. after wandering through the Rotunda for several minutes, the memo stated. He was forced to stop near the Old Senate Chamber because Capitol police officers were preventing the rioters from making their way further into the building, the memo stated.

Taking up his bullhorn, Baouche began chanting “Whose House?” as the crowd responded, “Our House,” according to a sentencing memo. The chant continued for approximately 20 seconds, the sentencing memo stated. Baouche then began chanting “You serve us, not them” through his bullhorn as he faced the officers, the memo stated, before apparently shifting his focus.

“F—- McConnell,” Baouche chanted, according to the memo. “It’s about time Mr. McConnell realizes he works for us. The police work for us.”

Baouche left the Capitol Building around 2:52 p.m. after spending about 17 minutes inside, a sentencing memo stated. Days after the riot, court documents show, the FBI received a tip reporting that Baouche had been among the rioters.

When Baouche declined to speak with investigators when they showed up at his workplace, Electric Boat provided them with the search history of his work computer, according to FBI officials. Location data also placed Baouche at the U.S. Capitol at the time of the riot, court documents showed. He had also taken Jan. 5 and 6 off from work, FBI officials said.

Baouche was charged by federal criminal complaint on Nov. 2, 2021 and arrested at his New London home eight days later, according to a sentencing memo. He was interviewed by FBI agents on June 10, 2022, about two and a half months before he pleaded guilty to the demonstrating offense on Aug. 25. During the interview, Baouche admitted knowing his actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6 were illegal, but said he “believed the adrenaline rush of being in the building had hampered his decision-making abilities,” the sentencing memo stated.

He did not express any remorse, the memo stated.