Charles Donohoe, a former leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group, has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for his involvement in a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Donohoe pleaded guilty to conspiring with other Proud Boys members to obstruct the joint session of Congress, certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The 35-year-old Donohoe, from Kernersville, North Carolina, is the second Proud Boy to plead guilty in connection with the Capitol riot. During his sentencing, he apologized to his family, law enforcement officers, and the nation for his actions on that fateful day, acknowledging the illegality of his actions.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly sentenced Donohoe to three years and four months in prison, with the possibility of release in a month or two, accounting for time served since his March 2021 arrest. The judge noted Donohoe’s efforts to make amends for his crimes.
Donohoe, who served as the president of a local Proud Boys chapter in North Carolina, cooperated with federal authorities after pleading guilty in April 2020 to two felony counts related to obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting, or impeding police. He did not testify at the trial of former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, who received a 22-year prison sentence earlier this year.
Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of 35 to 43 months for Donohoe, citing his role in organizing and leading a small army during the attack on the Capitol. Despite the recommended guidelines suggesting a longer prison term, the judge considered Donohoe’s early acceptance of responsibility and cooperation in the investigation.
More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with Capitol riot-related federal crimes, with approximately 900 pleading guilty or being convicted. The sentencing of Donohoe could serve as a precedent for other Proud Boys conspirators who have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
In a related development, a case was unsealed charging Barbara Balmaseda, a political activist from Florida, with storming the Capitol on January 6 with a Proud Boys member. Balmaseda was arrested on charges including obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct, with her attorney claiming the case is politically motivated.
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