A federal judge has rejected the requests made by Richard Barnett, an Arkansas man considered a prominent figure of the January 6th events at the Capitol. Barnett had sought a delay in the start date of his four-and-a-half year prison sentence and asked to be transferred to a correctional facility in South Dakota. The judge denied both requests on Tuesday.
Last week, Barnett had requested a three-month extension to adequately prepare for his sentence and asked to be placed at the prison facility in Yankton, South Dakota.
During his sentencing hearing, the judge referred to Barnett as one of the notable individuals associated with the events of January 6th, specifically mentioning the infamous photograph depicting Barnett with his legs resting on Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the Capitol riot.
Barnett was found guilty on all charges related to his involvement in the riot and received a 54-month prison sentence on May 24, 2023. In his testimony, Barnett claimed he had entered the U.S. Capitol seeking a restroom and accidentally ended up in Pelosi’s office where he encountered two news photographers, who captured the now-famous image.
According to court documents, Barnett’s preference for the Yankton facility was based on his age and the desire for a minimum-security prison camp without violent offenders, offering work opportunities and psychological programs.
In response to Barnett’s plea for a delay, the judge emphasized that Barnett had ample time since his conviction to prepare for his incarceration and failed to provide any compelling reasons justifying an extension.