Proud Boy Christopher Worrell sentenced to 10 years in prison

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Credit: U.S. DOJ

The East Naples man convicted of his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Christopher Worrell, who absconded from police before his initial sentencing, faced as much as 14 years behind bars.

Prosecutors were pushing for a longer sentence due to Worrell’s antics after he was convicted.

He hid from deputies for 45 days and faked a drug overdose.

Court documents show he admitted to all.

“We’ve never had anything like this, but it goes to show you just what is how far law enforcement will go or the federal government will go in order to apprehend and prosecute a person for such a crime,” said Dr. David Thomas, FGCU professor of criminal justice.

Worrell, a resident of east Naples, was a member of the Proud Boys, and investigators said he targeted law enforcement officers with pepper spray during the capitol riot.

“Well, a large part of sentencing has to do with deterrence,” said Bob Foley, retired FBI agent. “My sense is that a message will be sent so that there is a deterrent effect to others who, in the future thinking, are thinking about doing the same thing.”

Federal investigators said Worrell cut off his GPS ankle monitor in a Walmart parking lot and fled his home in August.

His flight triggered an FBI manhunt that culminated six weeks later in his arrest at his east Naples home.

“In the old days, if you committed an act of treason. It would be death. It will be sentenced by death. Today, we’re much more lenient, or we respect life more than that,” Thomas said.

Prosecutors said Worrel faked a drug overdose and continued that lie during a five-day hospital stay.

UCF political professor Aubrey jewett said this case has really exposed the split between Republicans and Democrats.

“You do have a lot of Republican Trump supporters, in particular, who really just don’t believe that at all, and they probably believe that this guy shouldn’t have been convicted, and if he was convicted, he should get a very light sentence,” she said.

In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered 36 months of supervised release, restitution of $2,000, and $610 in special assessment.

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