Mahailya Pryer, who was convicted of entering the U.S. Capitol during the riots on January 6, 2021, has been sentenced to additional time in prison for violating her probation. The court documents include photos related to the case.
A Missouri Jan. 6 rioter has been ordered by a federal judge to spend an additional 30 days in prison for repeatedly violating her probation. These violations include drug use and confessing to felonies related to leaving the scene of an accident and endangering the welfare of a child through drug involvement.
Mahailya Pryer has been placed in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a period of 156 days. It should be noted that she has already served 81 days, and an additional 45 days will be credited to her, taking into account the 14 months she spent on probation. This comes after she admitted to a misdemeanor count of trespassing into the Capitol building during the insurrection that occurred on January 6, 2021.
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U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has also rejected Pryer’s request to be released pending an appeal.
Pryer fought to end her probation, claiming that her sentence became illegal following a federal appeals court ruling in the United States v. Little case last year. The ruling established that a court can either impose imprisonment or probation for a single petty offense, but not both.
Pryer was identified as someone who took part in the “Stop the Steal” rally organized by former President Donald Trump, according to authorities who discovered her involvement through social media. Donning red, white, and blue stocking hats adorned with the number “45,” she made her way into the Capitol at 2:43 p.m. and left at 2:51 p.m.
In May 2022, Pryer admitted her guilt to the charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Initially, she received a prison sentence of 45 days, followed by 36 months of probation.
According to her public defenders, she has already served her sentence and should not be penalized again for the same crime.
The lawyers argued that the Court did not have the power to impose both imprisonment and probation on Ms. Pryer. They pointed out that she has already completed her prison sentence and, therefore, her probation should be terminated. According to them, it would be unfair to punish her twice for the same offense.
In April 2023, the probation office notified the court that Pryer had violated eight conditions of her probation. She was found to have driven a vehicle without a valid driver’s license or insurance on at least four occasions and was also accused of possessing or using methamphetamine.
On May 1, 2023, she was taken into custody and arrested. However, on May 24, a judge made a decision to allow her to be released to home incarceration at an inpatient facility until her final hearing on revocation. It took some time for her to actually be released, as there was a shortage of available beds at the inpatient facility. As a result, she spent a total of 36 days in custody before finally being released on June 5.
On July 5, after spending 30 days at the inpatient facility, Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui modified her release conditions from home incarceration to home detention. This allowed her to leave her residence for addiction and mental health treatment, as well as to pursue employment.
But on August 15, the probation office filed an additional report accusing Pryer of more violations, such as the use and possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. In the following month, Pryer’s release conditions were modified to no longer include location monitoring.
In November, Pryer took the initiative to request early termination of her probation, a month prior to the probation office filing another petition that accused her of further violations. In response, the government took action to have Pryer undergo resentencing.
Pryer, on the other hand, supposedly neglected to inform her probation officer about her change of address and disappeared. Her current location was reported as “unknown.”
In January 2024, Faruqui determined that as Pryer had served her prison sentence, double jeopardy would be applicable. She recommended the Court to nullify Ms. Pryer’s probation sentence, reject the government’s plea for resentencing, dismiss Ms. Pryer’s petition for early termination as irrelevant, and officially close the case.
On February 2nd, the Court released a statement rejecting the government’s request for resentencing and choosing not to accept the suggestion of “voiding” Pryer’s sentence. The Court emphasized that it can only operate within the authority granted by Congress, and as of now, there is no statute or rule that allows the Court to reconsider Pryer’s sentence based on the current circumstances.
Lamberth had to address Pryer’s motion for early termination and the sentence on the probation violations.
Lamberth, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, stated that Pryer’s behavior did not justify terminating his probation early. He expressed surprise at the number of reported violations during probation.
According to Judge Lamberth, Ms. Pryer has not provided sufficient evidence to support her request for early termination. He stated that she has not demonstrated any significant changes in her circumstances or exceptional behavior. Instead, she has acknowledged that she has violated the conditions of her release.
According to the prosecutor, Ms. Pryer’s behavior demonstrates a blatant disregard for the law and public safety. The early termination of her sentence would not adequately ensure the protection of the public from any potential future crimes committed by the defendant.
A Judge Extends Sentence of Jan. 6 Rioter Who Admitted to Driving Drunk and Using Drugs While on Probation
In a case displaying deep disrespect for the law, a judge has decided to add an additional 30 days to the sentence of a Jan. 6 rioter. The individual had previously admitted to driving under the influence and using drugs while on probation. This story was first reported by Law & Crime.