‘Bob’s Burgers’ and ‘Arrested Development’ Actor Jay Johnston Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison for Role in US Capitol Riot
Jay James Johnston, a 55-year-old actor known for his work on “Arrested Development” and as a voice actor on “Bob’s Burgers,” received a prison sentence of one year and one day for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Johnston admitted to a felony charge of civil disorder in July after prosecutors alleged he joined the crowd at the Capitol’s Lower West Plaza, capturing the chaos on his phone, and even standing atop the stage set for Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Court documents claim Johnston briefly held a stolen police riot shield and participated in a group effort to push against law enforcement at a tunnel entrance to the Capitol, during which a Metropolitan Police officer was crushed. Prosecutors argued for an 18-month sentence, asserting Johnston lacked remorse or accountability for his actions. Text messages from Johnston, obtained by investigators, showed him downplaying the event, describing it as a “non-attack.”
Johnston’s lawyer argued that the government was leveraging his Hollywood status to set an example, allegedly overstating his role in the incident. Besides the prison term, Johnston was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
