Storming the US Capitol

First intruder sentenced to 4.5 years in prison

Storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

A man who was the first person to break into the US Capitol in January 2021 has been sentenced to almost four and a half years in prison. He was also fined 2,000 dollars (the equivalent of 1,791.63 euros).

Michael Sparks from the US state of Kentucky was found guilty of resisting law enforcement and breach of the peace (see video above). According to investigators, he was the first Trump supporter to enter the Congress building on January 6, 2021. Sparks "acted like a green light" to the demonstrators following him, a police officer said at the trial in Washington.

A picture of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

1500 people charged
In total, almost 1,500 people were charged with taking part in the Capitol storming. Former US President Donald Trump himself has been indicted on four counts for his role. However, it is considered unlikely that the case will go to trial before the presidential election in November. Trump is running again for the Republican Party.

On January 6, 2021, fanatical supporters of Trump, who had been voted out of office, stormed the Capitol in Washington after a rousing speech by him. Congress was in session at the time. The action was intended to prevent Joe Biden's election victory from being formally certified. At least five people were killed and 140 emergency personnel were injured.