Washington man sentenced for his role in violent attack on Capitol Police line

A Washington state man has been sentenced to four months in prison for his role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, the Justice Department said.

Benjamin John Silva, 37, of Yacolt, was sentenced by District Judge Rudolph Contreras after pleading guilty to a charge of obstructing law enforcement during the riot.

Silva’s involvement in the attack on the Capitol, along with other rioters, disrupted the session of Congress that was certifying the electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.

According to court documents, Silva was identified near the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, an area known for the most violent clashes with police that day.

Silva entered the tunnel twice, and on the second occasion joined other rioters who were trying to break through the police lines.

Silva will spend 24 months in pretrial detention, including four months under house arrest, and was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution in addition to his prison sentence.

He was arrested by the FBI in July 2023.