Columbus man sentenced to 30 days for Jan. 6 crime
A Columbus man who livestreamed himself on Snapchat during the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection was sentenced on Friday in federal court to 30 days in prison.
Oliver Louis Sarko, 27, of the city’s East Side, also must serve 36 months of probation and pay $500 in restitution under the sentence issued by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Sarko pleaded guilty Nov. 9 under a plea agreement to a misdemeanor charge of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. A second charge for violent entry and disorderly conduct on U.S. Capitol grounds was dismissed under the agreement.
According to court documents, Sarko attended the rally at which then-President Donald Trump urged his supporters to go to the Capitol. Sarko livestreamed himself walking to the Capitol building, making statements including: “we are storming the Capitol out here,” “where are the traitors?” “bring out Pelosi,” “we won’t let you steal this country,” “we’re actually breaking in right now,” “fight for Trump.”
Other videos from the riot — including news and social media feeds — showed Sarko entering the Capitol building, court records show.
Federal prosecutors said Sarko did not commit any vandalism and was honest and remorseful with investigators. But, they said, he contributed to the violent atmosphere and momentum on Jan. 6 when a mob of
Trump supporters breached and vandalized the U.S. Capitol, clashing with and injuring law enforcement officers and disrupting for hours Congress’ certification of the election Trump lost.
More than 750 people in 48 states have been charged with participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection, including 38 Ohioans.
During his sentencing hearing, Sarko apologized for his actions, said he did not realize the Capitol police were overwhelmed by the crowd and that he no longer wants to be involved in politics.
Kollar-Kotelly said Sarko stayed in the Capitol building approximately 20 minutes, smelled tear gas and witnessed vandalism, so he should have known he wasn’t supposed to be there.
While handing down his sentence, Kollar-Kotelly said Sarko participated in an inexcusable attack on democracy, the peaceful transfer of power.