TEXAS — Forty-five-year-old Lucas Denney of Mansfield, Texas, has been sentenced to 52 months in prison for assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. The former military police officer and self-declared president of the Patriot Boys of North Texas gathered protective gear and weapons and recruited others to join him on his journey to the Capitol in January last year.

According to the Department of Justice, Denney took to social media on Jan. 1, 2021, and wrote “I’m so pumped brother. I can’t wait to be in the middle of it on the front line on the 6th.” A couple days later, he stated that “WW3 isn’t too far away though.”

Geared up on Jan. 6, Denney entered the Capitol grounds illegally and confronted police officers protecting the building. He fought with officers at metal barricades on the west side of the Capitol, punching one of them in the face shield, sprayed what appeared to be chemical irritant at them and aided another rioter in launching what appeared to be a large tube at the officers.

Nearly two hours later, Denney entered the tunnel leading to the Capitol and pushed a riot shield into and on top of a line of officers attempting to secure the area. He also swung at an officer on the steps leading up to the building, pulling the officer further down the steps.

Denney was arrested in the Brackettville, Texas, area on Dec. 13, 2021. He pleaded guilty March of this year. Denney is charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon. After his prison term, Denney will be placed on three years of supervised release. He must also pay restitution in which the amount will be determined by the court later on.

FBI’s Dallas Field Office and its Washington Field Office investigated Denney’s case. Assistance was also provided by other agencies including Texas DPS, the Metropolitan Police Department, FBI’s San Antonio Field Office and U.S. Capitol Police.

Investigations for the Jan. 6 Capitol breach are still ongoing. So far, more than 870 individuals have been arrested in relation to the attack on the Capitol.