Mark Jefferson Leffingwell, 52 — a former member of the Washington National Guard — appeared by video from Seattle for his sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Amy B. Jackson in the District of Columbia. Leffingwell pleaded guilty to punching federal police officers after storming the U.S. Capitol with a pro-Trump mob last year was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison.
According to court records, Leffingwell traveled with a friend to the so-called Stop the Steal rally in Washington D.C., then walked a mile to the Capitol after the siege was underway. Once there, Leffingwell pushed his way to the front of a chanting crowd that had made its way just inside the Senate Wing entrance of the Capitol at about 4 p.m., prosecutors say. Capitol Police Officer Daniel Amendola said he and other officers were attempting to form a barrier to prevent the mob from further entering the Capitol when he encountered Leffingwell, who tried to push past him.
Leffingwell also struck another officer in the head, prosecutors say. Officers apprehended Leffingwell “before he could escape back into the crowd,” charging papers say.
“You punched the first officer and then you punched another officer who was trying to restrain you,” Jackson said. “More than one punch, more than one officer. It was wrong, it was unconscionable, and I think you know that.” Still, Jackson took into account Leffingwell’s military service, family situation and no prior criminal record when formulating what she called “one of the most difficult” decisions she’s made for a sentence, which came in about 21 months less than what prosecutors had sought.
“It was not something that I planned to do,” he added. “And looking back on it, it’s just a nightmare. …I wish I could go back and make it not happen.”As part of his sentence, Leffingwell must also pay $2,000 in restitution and serve 24 months of supervised probation and perform community service upon release. The judge’s sentence allows him to voluntarily surrender at a date to be determined for incarceration at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.
Leffingwell, a resident of Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood, served in the Washington National Guard from 2005 to 2009 and deployed with the 81st Brigade to Iraq. He was honorably discharged in 2009 and, according to federal court records and prosecutors, is on disability due to a combat-related traumatic brain injury. Leffingwell ultimately pleaded guilty in September to a single count of assaulting a federal officer under a plea arrangement. He faced a maximum sentence of up to 8 years in prison.
