A former La Habra police chief was sentenced Thursday to greater than 11 years in jail for becoming a member of a riot on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a plot to forestall Congress from certifying election outcomes.
Alan Hostetter, one in every of six members of a Southern California group often known as the DC Brigade, was convicted in federal court docket in July of 4 felonies together with conspiracy to hinder an official continuing and coming into a restricted space with a lethal or harmful weapon.
Hostetter, 58, who now lives in Poolville, Texas, was ordered by a Washington, D.C., choose to pay $2,000 in restitution and a advantageous of $30,000 as a part of his sentencing. He’s anticipated to report back to jail by Jan. 5, 2024, in accordance with federal court docket data.
Prosecutors argued that Hostetter, a fervent supporter of former President Trump, refused to simply accept that Joe Biden gained the 2020 election, in accordance with court docket data. Hostetter known as for the execution of his perceived political enemies in varied speeches at so-called Cease the Steal rallies within the weeks main as much as the rebel, in accordance with movies and court docket data.
At one such rally in December 2020, Hostetter instructed the group that “President Trump have to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, and he have to be allowed to complete this historic job of cleansing out the corruption within the cesspool often known as Washington, D.C.”
“The enemies and traitors of America, each international and home, have to be held accountable. And they’ll. There have to be lengthy jail phrases, whereas execution is the simply punishment for the ringleaders of this coup,” he mentioned.
Hostetter, who spent roughly 20 years in regulation enforcement earlier than retiring and turning into a yoga teacher, was a key determine in Orange County right-wing activism circles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hostetter’s social media accounts promoted weekly rallies and road marches in opposition to “tyrants” issuing well being orders for a pandemic he claimed was not actual. He shaped a nonprofit group, the American Phoenix Mission, described in state registration papers as being devoted to the development of constitutional liberties.
Hostetter was indicted in June 2021 together with 5 different males: Ladera Ranch resident Russell Taylor, and Riverside County Three Percenters militia members Derek Kinnison of Lake Elsinore, Felipe “Tony” Martinez of Lake Elsinore, Erik Scott Warner of Menifee and Ronald Mele of Temecula.
Taylor pleaded responsible in April to a conspiracy cost. He testified for the federal government at Hostetter’s trial. Kinnison, Martinez, Warner and Mele have been discovered responsible in November of conspiracy to hinder an official continuing and different costs.
Prosecutors allege the lads conspired on social media previous to the riot — together with on a Telegram channel dubbed California Patriots – Reply the Name Jan. 6 and through textual content messages — creating journey plans that included dialogue of bringing weapons to the Capitol.
On Jan. 6, Hostetter, Taylor and others gathered close to the Ellipse adjoining to the White Home to listen to Trump communicate. Hostetter famous in an Instagram video that he and others “should not really going to be going into the Ellipse, as a result of we’ve some private protecting gear.” Prosecutors say Hostetter was referring to a hatchet he had in his backpack, in accordance with court docket data.
On the Capitol, Hostetter climbed onto the Higher West Terrace and filmed the chaos round him. Hostetter didn’t enter the constructing, however, prosecutors say, he used a bullhorn to encourage the group to push by means of the police line and breach off-limits areas of the Capitol.
“The folks have taken again their home. I don’t assume I’ve ever seen such a stupendous sight in my complete life,” Hostetter says in a video taken on the scene that’s detailed in court docket data.
At occasions throughout the trial Hostetter, who represented himself, spun conspiracy theories in regards to the rebel, claimed the election was stolen from Trump and portrayed himself as a sufferer of FBI corruption.
Prosecutors argued in a 58-page sentencing memo submitted to the court docket that Hostetter’s intent on the Capitol was to make members of Congress concern for his or her security regardless of understanding that his actions have been illegal.
“Hostetter likes to wrap himself within the American flag and tackle the position of freedom fighter, however there may be nothing patriotic or American about calling for violence — or threatening violence, to realize your political goals. That isn’t patriotism. That’s terrorism,” prosecutors wrote.
The Related Press contributed to this report