An Army veteran from Illinois, William Lewis, has been sentenced to over three years in prison for his role in the January 6 Capitol riots. Lewis, 58, faced U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, who handed down the 37-month sentence after Lewis pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers during the chaos at the Capitol.
On that day, Lewis brought a can of “No Pest Wasp & Hornet Killer” and used it against officers who were trying to stop the mob from storming the building. Prosecutors described him as an active and determined participant in the violent events. They said he sprayed officers four times with the insect repellent and later joined in vandalizing the Capitol by smashing a large window with a stolen police baton.
Lewis traveled to Washington, D.C., with a “combat buddy” to show support for then-President Donald Trump, whom he believed had won the 2020 election unfairly. During an FBI interview, he admitted he hoped his presence at the Capitol would convince Congress to call for a recount. Lewis also confessed to using the spray but claimed his intention was to protect officers by neutralizing pepper spray in the air, not to harm them.
Prosecutors didn’t buy his explanation, pointing out that five Metropolitan Police officers were directly hit with the spray, and at least one experienced burning on his face and eyes. After using the spray, Lewis threw the can toward the officers.
This wasn’t the first time Lewis had found himself on the wrong side of the law. His past included a burglary incident where he smashed a neighbor’s window, kicked in their door, and threatened them with a box cutter. He also had multiple DUIs during his time in the Army, including one incident where he flipped a Jeep. Military officials had strong words about his service, calling him a danger to others and unsuitable for continued service.
While his past and actions on January 6 painted a troubling picture, Lewis’s lawyer argued that his struggles stemmed from undiagnosed PTSD and addiction issues that began after he served in combat during the Gulf War. The lawyer described January 6 as a turning point in Lewis’s life, saying he deeply regrets being part of such a dark day in U.S. history.
Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of Lewis’s actions, noting that as a veteran, he should have understood the importance of respecting the law and the Constitution. Instead, he joined in a violent effort to disrupt the democratic process.
In the end, Lewis’s actions led to a sentence that highlights the consequences of participating in such a destructive and unlawful event. For his part, Lewis now faces the reality of spending the next few years in prison, reflecting on the choices that brought him to this point.
