WASHINGTON (WCBD) – A Berkeley County man who pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced to prison Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced 54-year-old Christopher George Rockey to 18 months in prison and 24 months of supervised release. In addition, Rockey was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
The Cross native traveled to Washington D.C. from South Carolina to attend former President Donald Trump’s speech on the Ellipse, the Department of Justice explained.
Court documents state Rockey entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door around 2:23 p.m. on Jan. 6. He continued through the Rotunda and House Chamber before encountering a line of police officers with a group of rioters, according to the DOJ.
The mob went through police, and Rockey eventually exited the building at 2:44 p.m. After leaving, Rockey joined another group of rioters on the Upper Terrace, which is the north side of the Capitol.