A Virginia man was sentenced to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay $98,000 in restitution for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021.
Lewis Wayne Snoots, 59, of Louisa, was sentenced Friday to 71 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol, and $96,927.18 in restitution to the Metropolitan Police Department by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.
Despite his violent actions on Jan. 6, President-elect Donald Trump has said he will pardon those involved in the “Stop the Steal” rally, calling it a “day of love.” The account of Snoots and his actions in D.C. certainly were the opposite of love.
According to court documents, Snoots physically restrained a MPD officer while they were tased, physically attacked and robbed of their police badge and radio.
The officer sustained significant injuries, including pain from repeated taser shocks, which left burn marks and caused the officer to lose consciousness for more than two minutes. Following the attack, the officer experienced ongoing physical and cognitive challenges, including neck pain, memory difficulties and anxiety.
Snoots previously pleaded guilty to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. The FBI arrested Snoots on Sept. 5, 2023.
His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
By 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, a contingent of United States Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers had established a police line at one of the two glass doorways inside the Lower West Terrace Tunnel in order to prohibit the mob from making its way inside the Capitol. The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th.
Around 3:14 p.m., Snoots entered the Tunnel, wearing a gas mask and pushed forward through the crowd to reach the front of the police line. Over the next few minutes, Snoots, along with other rioters, attempted to overpower the police line, making efforts to force their way into the Capitol building.
As tensions escalated, another rioter assaulted officers using a USCP riot shield, with Snoots aiding the attack by applying force to the shield.
At 3:17 p.m., when officers attempted to regain control of the shield, Snoots passed it back to other rioters, allowing them to continue using it against the police.
At 3:18 p.m., another rioter wrapped his arm around the neck of an MPD officer at the front of the police line and dragged the officer into the crowd outside the Tunnel, shouting, “Hey! I got one!”
As seen in video footage, Snoots moved toward the commotion, placed his hand on the officer’s back and continued to maintain physical contact as rioters pulled the officer further into the mob.
Footage shows another rioter attempting to seize the officer’s service weapon while shouting threats, and another rioter repeatedly tased the officer on the back of the neck. Throughout this encounter, Snoots used both of his hands to partially restrain the officer’s right arm.
Snoots actions were nonconsensual and hindered and impaired the officer’s ability to defend themselves against the continuous onslaught of assaults inflicted by other rioters and to protect their service weapon from rioters.
After these assaults, and while still on the U.S. Capitol grounds within the restricted area, Snoots gave a video- and audio-recording interview.
“I’m fed up with it, everybody is fed up with it. They have tear-gassed our ass off of the Capitol steps, but it’s not over,” Snoots said. “What they don’t understand is it’s just starting. Every political a— up in that place is now going to have a target on their back everywhere they go.”
Submit a tip to the FBI
In the 48 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,600 individuals have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Related stories: Jan. 6
For related stories, search “Jan. 6” on Augusta Free Press.
- Louisa man pleads guilty to felony charge for role in violent Jan. 6 insurrection
- Louisa man arrested for assaulting law enforcement during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
- Harrisonburg man sentenced to 15 months in prison, brandished a knife on Jan. 6
- FBI: Two Virginia brothers now face felony charges for their actions on Jan. 6
- FBI continues search for violent Jan. 6 rioters despite Trump’s pledge to pardon them
- DOJ, FBI continue to pursue Jan. 6 criminals who assaulted police, damaged property
- Powhatan man facing felony charges for role in Jan. 6, struggle with officers
- Virginia man who used police baton resisting officers on Jan. 6, 2021, arrested Thursday
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Crystal Graham
