A Tennessee man who dragged a police officer into a crowd of protesters during one of the most shocking acts of violence during the attack on the US Capitol was sentenced Thursday to more than seven years in prison.
Albuquerque Cosper Head refused to speak in court before US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced him to seven years and six months in prison followed by three years of supervised imprisonment. The judge stated that Head was responsible for “some of the darkest acts committed on one of our nation’s darkest days”.
Head’s sentence in his case was six months below the legal maximum. It was also the second-longest sentence to date among hundreds of cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol siege, when a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the building as Congress prepared to secure an election victory certify by President Joe Biden.
“Unfortunately, the dark shadow of tyranny has not been lifted,” Jackson added. “There are people who continue to spread the lie that the elections were stolen. They are doing it today and the people who are fueling this anger for their own selfish ends need to reflect on the mess they made, the lives they ruined.”
Head engaged in some of the most violent acts during the Capitol riots, repeatedly assaulting officers guarding a tunnel on Lower West Terrace, according to prosecutors.
Michael Fanone, a Washington-area police officer, was at the entrance to the tunnel and participating in the front line of defense when Head grabbed him and yelled, “I’ve got one!” as he wrapped his arms around the officer’s neck and pulled him toward the crowd outside the tunnel, prosecutors said.
“You used him as your prey, your trophy,” Jackson told 43-year-old Head.