Man sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for role in Charleston riot [View all]

A Charleston man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for civil disorder connected to last year’s riot in downtown Charleston.

Abraham “AJ” Jenkins was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Gergel to 18 months in federal prison followed by 36 months of supervised release for the offense.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will always protect the First Amendment rights of South Carolinians,” Acting U.S. Attorney M. Rhett DeHart said in a statement July 8. “However, when peaceful protests turn into violence and destruction, the violent agitators committing crimes will be brought to justice.”

Jenkins, 26, pleaded guilty in the fall to civil disorder after admitting he damaged police equipment and harassed law enforcement officers attempting to quell the vandalism and looting that erupted May 30, 2020, following protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer.

Read more: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/man-sentenced-to-18-months-in-federal-prison-for-role-in-charleston-riot/article_937e1b7e-e018-11eb-b5ef-e7e260938910.html