Proud Boys leader draws 6-month sentence for burning BLM flag

Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A Washington, D.C., judge on Monday sentenced the leader of the far-right Proud Boys militant group to six months in jail for burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a pro-Trump demonstration last year.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Harold Cushenberry handed down the sentence to Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, who had pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges in the case, WTOP-TV and NBC News reported.

Prosecutors said Tarrio was in Washington for protests on Dec. 12 when four churches in Washington, including two historically Black places of worship, were vandalized.

The 37-year-old Miami resident pleaded guilty to being among a group of Proud Boys members who stole the BLM banner from the Asbury United Methodist Church, which was one of the four damaged that night, and burned it with lighter fluid and a lighter.

The Proud Boys have been involved in numerous fights and skirmishes over the past year including the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol and a fight with counter-demonstrators at the Washington event in December.

Tarrio issued an apology for his conduct during Monday's hearing, saying that he made "a grave mistake" by burning the banner.

But Cushenberry wasn't swayed, sentencing Tarrio to 155 days in jail and three years of probation -- more than the 90 days sought by the Justice Department -- due to what he called Tarrio's apparent lack of remorse and repeated criminal violations following his Jan. 4 arrest and pretrial release.

Tarrio has maintained a high profile online since then, including frequent posts calling for the release of fellow Proud Boys and Capitol riot defendants Joseph Biggs and Ethan Nordean and attending a weekend in Florida calling for the release of Biggs.

"Mr. Tarrio's conduct in these criminal cases indicate none of these democratic values [he claims]," Cushenberry said. "Instead Mr. Tarrio's actions betrayed them. Mr. Tarrio has clearly, intentionally and proudly crossed the line from peaceful protest into dangerous and potentially violent criminal conduct."

Police arrested Tarrio on a warrant for the destruction of property but discovered two high-capacity firearm magazines in his possession, each of which bore the insignia of the Proud Boys. He was charged with two counts of possession of high-capacity ammunition weapons, which were lessened to one count of possessing a large-capacity ammunition feeding device in the plea deal.

His sentencing came a day after the Proud Boys were among opposing groups of hundreds of political demonstrators who clashed in Portland, Ore. Officials said there were about 100 right-wing demonstrators and at least 200 left-wing protesters who battled in suburban and downtown areas.

At least one man was arrested for firing a gun in the clash.