Powell man convicted in Jan. 6 insurrection is expected to be released from prison early
A Powell man convicted for his role in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is expected to be released from federal prison in early May while the U.S. Supreme Court determines whether the law he was convicted under is legally sound.
Alexander Sheppard, 24, had been serving a 19-month federal prison sentence after he was found guilty in January 2023 of multiple charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding. Sheppard was one of the first people to storm past police lines at the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection.
USA TODAY reported Tuesday that
Sheppard will be released on May 2, according to an order filed by U.S. District Judge John Bates.
The obstruction charge for which Sheppard was convicted and sentenced is currently being challenged with the Supreme Court. Oral arguments in the case were heard by the nine justices on Tuesday, but a decision is not expected for several months.
About one-quarter of the more than 1,300 people charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection were charged with obstruction for disrupting Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s electoral college victory over Donald
Trump in the November 2020 general election.
Why is Alexander Sheppard being given an early release?
The New York Times reported Tuesday that Sheppard was one of about 10 defendants who had been sentenced under the statute who are expected to be released from prison while the Supreme Court case is pending. The release is for defendants who were sentenced only on the obstruction charge.
The defendants who are released, including Sheppard, could be sent back to federal prison depending on what the Supreme Court rules.