Former U.S. Olympic swimmer and Colorado Springs resident Klete Keller was sentenced Friday to 3 years of probation, together with six months of residence detention, for his involvement within the Jan. 6 riot.
Keller, 41, was indicted on seven federal counts however pleaded responsible to a sole depend of obstruction of Congress, which is a felony, after reaching a take care of prosecutors.
U.S. District Decide Richard Leon additionally ordered Keller full 360 hours of group service, in response to The Related Press.
Although Keller might have confronted 21 to 27 months of imprisonment, federal prosecutors requested the choose to difficulty a lighter sentence — 10 months in jail and 36 months of supervised launch — for his cooperation with investigators.
Keller was one of many first folks to publicly conform to a plea settlement for his involvement within the Jan. 6 riot and for nearly three years, he has cooperated with the federal government’s investigation into the assault on the Capitol and met with authorities officers to explain the folks round him and what occurred that day, courtroom paperwork mentioned.
“A former Olympian with a chance to see up shut America’s beliefs and characterize its place on this planet, Keller was in a novel place to know higher,” prosecutors wrote. “He needs to be punished, and his punishment ought to embody imprisonment. However he has additionally proven real regret and, extra importantly, he has tried to proper his improper for practically three years.”
In a letter addressed to the choose, Keller mentioned he felt ashamed and “profoundly embarrassed” for breaching the Capitol.
“As a former member of america Olympic Swimming Group, my conduct set a horrible instance for younger individuals who appeared as much as me,” Keller wrote in a letter filed within the U.S. District Court docket of Columbia. “I take full accountability for my inexcusable actions. I’ll settle for my punishment with humility and serve my sentence in peace.”
The five-time Olympic medalist was charged in February 2021 after he was seen in a video among the many crowds on the Jan. 6 riots, carrying a purple, white and blue USA jacket.
Within the 8-page letter to the choose, Keller mentioned he flew to D.C. to attend former President Donald Trump’s rally on Jan. 6 and joined a crowd strolling contained in the Capitol after seeing folks climbing up scaffolding and smelling tear gasoline.
“I knew I shouldn’t be there, nevertheless it appeared like an act of civil disobedience,” Keller wrote. As he walked by the constructing, he shouted “obnoxious, hostile slogans” at cops.
He mentioned police started to push the gang out of the rotunda and he exited the constructing. When he received again to the lodge, he mentioned he “felt sick” seeing himself in information protection and turned himself in to federal authorities in Denver 5 days later.
Shortly after he was charged, he resigned from Hoff & Leigh, a business actual property agency in Colorado Springs, however has since been rehired, Keller mentioned.
“I hope my case serves as a warning to anybody who rationalizes unlawful conduct, particularly in a second of political fervor,” Keller wrote. “The results of my conduct will comply with me and my household for the remainder of our lives. I disenchanted my co-workers and former swimming teammates who trusted me to make use of common sense.”
At 6-foot-6 and 250 kilos, the previous athlete repeatedly resisted officers’ makes an attempt to take away him from the constructing, the place he remained for practically an hour, chanting “F— Nancy Pelosi” and “F— Chuck Schumer!,” courtroom paperwork said.
Keller is certainly one of at the very least 19 Coloradans charged with crimes tied to the Jan. 6 riot, a lot of whom have been sentenced and a few who’re nonetheless awaiting trial.
