In Washington, a self-proclaimed militia leader from Michigan, Matthew Thomas Krol, was handed a prison sentence of more than four years on Friday for his role in attacking law enforcement officers during the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol. Krol, aged 65 and hailing from Linden, Michigan, was found guilty of assaulting at least three officers, using a stolen police baton that he had taken from law enforcement.
Prosecutors described Krol as one of the primary instigators of violence that led to the retreat of officers from the mob of rioters who breached the Capitol's West Plaza. Video footage captured Krol's attacks on officers, including Capitol Police Sgt Aquilino Gonell, whom he struck with the stolen police baton, leaving Gonell's right hand bloody and swollen.
Also Read:
Parliamentary Proceedings Hinge on Home Minister's Response: Congress....
During his sentencing, Krol apologized to Gonell, who was present in the courtroom, before US District Judge Rudolph Contreras handed down a sentence of four years and three months. Krol will receive credit for the time served since his arrest in February 2022.
Gonell, who left the police department a year ago, urged the judge to hold Krol accountable for his actions on January 6, stating, "The course of my life was changed that day, and he was part of the mob that ensured I'd lose my career."
Prosecutors revealed that Krol is a self-proclaimed executive officer of the Genesee County Volunteer Militia in Michigan and identified himself as a "militia enthusiast" when questioned by FBI agents. Krol was also associated with members of the Wolverine Watchmen paramilitary group, including Adam Fox, Joseph Morrison, and Paul Bellar, who were convicted last year for supporting a 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
While Krol was not implicated in the kidnapping plot, the FBI discovered Facebook messages he exchanged privately with militia group leaders in Michigan, including Fox. In one message, Krol expressed his willingness to "kill or die for Liberty" and discussed his preference for apprehending tyrants rather than engaging in civil war.
Defense attorney Michael Cronkright argued that Krol had made regrettable "hyperbolic and inflammatory statements" and was not closely associated with the Wolverine Watchmen. Cronkright asserted that Krol knew nothing about the kidnapping plot.
Prosecutors contended that Krol had expressed his willingness to engage in mob violence to achieve political objectives before the January 6 attack. In Facebook messages, Krol advocated violence against politicians, displayed open hostility toward Whitmer, and shared images of himself carrying weaponry, according to Assistant US Attorney Andrew Tessman.
Krol pleaded guilty to an assault charge in August, and prosecutors recommended a sentence of six years and six months. Nine months after the riot, Krol was interviewed by US Customs and Border Protection officers upon returning from Mexico. During the interview, Krol claimed he was stopped at the border due to his support for former President Donald Trump and referred to the January 6 riot as a peaceful protest.
Cronkright highlighted Krol's decades-long dedication to missionary and disaster relief work in Haiti, India, Thailand, and Guatemala. He emphasized that Krol's attacks on police at the Capitol lasted less than a minute and argued that the brief incident did not define Krol's character.
Despite Krol's missionary and relief work, over 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 900 individuals have pleaded guilty or been convicted, with over 700 sentenced to prison terms ranging from three days to 22 years, reflecting the broad legal repercussions resulting from the events of January 6, 2021.