Actor Jay Johnston, known for his roles in “Bob’s Burgers,” “Arrested Development” and “Mr. Show,” is headed to prison.
Johnston was arrested in June 2023 for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
A month later, he pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstructing a police officer during a civil disorder.
Now, Deadline reports that the veteran comedian and character actor has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison.
Court documents obtained by the media show that Johnston flew from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021, to participate in the “Stop the Steal Rally.”
Prosecutors allege Johnston witnessed and filmed the rioters attacking police officers.
They say he then used a stolen U.S. Capitol Police riot shield to create a “shield wall” against police officers and was part of a group that pinned an officer to the wall and crushed him.
In the days after the riot, Johnston sent messages to family and friends claiming the media had exaggerated the events at the Capitol.
He also claimed that the situation was “set up” by the police and Antifa to target Trump supporters.
Johnston “downplayed his involvement in the riot by dressing up as Jacob Chansley, known as the ‘QAnon Shaman,’ at a Halloween party he attended.”
Now, the once-popular figure on the Los Angeles comedy scene will be jailed next year.
But Johnston can take solace in the fact that it could have been worse.
Prosecutors initially sought an 18-month sentence after noting that he “spread false information about January 6” and had “no remorse for participating in the riots.”
But with a plea deal and good behavior, the 56-year-old could be released from prison in mid-2025. Of course, it seems unlikely that he’ll find many jobs in his current field.
Johnston first came to prominence in the early 1990s with numerous roles on Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’s influential sketch show Mr. Show.
He went on to star on “The Sarah Silverman Show” and once again co-starred with the comedian on “Bob’s Burgers,” playing Jimmy Pesto in 42 episodes.
Johnston has not yet spoken publicly about today’s sentencing.
