Today, on January 6th, the electoral college will conduct its ceremonial count of the votes from the 2024 presidential election and name Donald Trump as the winner. While this date usually had little significance to the public, it now has a dark meaning for U.S. citizens.
Exactly four years ago, President Trump falsely stated that the 2020 election had been rigged during his “stop the steal” speech, where he told his supporters to “fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore” before encouraging supporters to march to the Capitol, “to try and give them [Republicans congress members set on voting for Trump] the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.” It was after this speech that the January 6th insurrection and the attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 election would begin.
In the wake of that tragic and deadly day, seven Bucks County citizens were arrested, charged, and found guilty of participating in the insurrection, one of the highest counts of any county in the country. Some were just sentenced with misdemeanors, while others faced jail time. Since he was reelected, Trump has stated that he will likely pardon those found guilty, including those who plead guilty for their parts in the attack. Below are the following Bucks County residents found guilty of participating on Jan. 6th, what they were found guilty of, and how long their sentencing was.
Dawn Bancroft, Doylestown
Bancroft, a vocal MAGA Republican who has still attended CPAC events in the wake of the insurrection, filmed herself entering the Capital on Jan 6th saying, “We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the frickin’ brain, but we didn’t find her.” She pleaded guilty for Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building, and was sentenced in 2022 with 60 days in prison, along with three years’ probation, 100 hours community service, and $500 restitution. The judge presiding over her sentencing, district Judge Emmet Sullivan, said, “Those comments, Mrs. Bancroft, are not acceptable in a democratic society. I feel bad for you, I feel bad for you that you made these comments.”
READ: Bucks County Republican Committeewoman Sentenced for Her Role in Jan. 6 Insurrection
Diana Santos-Smith, Bucks County
Along with Bancroft was Santos-Smith, who was seen with Bancroft entering the Capitol through a broken window, and appeared in the video where Bancroft threatened then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She also pleaded guilty for Parading, Demonstrating, and Picketing in a Capitol Building, and was sentenced to 20 days incarceration, 3 years probation, 100 hours community service and had to pay $500 in restitution.
Ryan Stephen Samsel, Bristol
Samsel had a lengthy record of violence before the January 6th riot, where he was found guilty of assaulting the U.S. Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards after pushing a metal barricade into her, resulting in a concussion, before assaulting a second officer, according to the US Attorney’s office. He, along with four other accomplices from across the country, was found guilty of assaulting Edwards and other officers, and will be sentenced in February of this year.
Raechel Genco, Levittown
Genco, Samsel’s girlfriend, was also present at the insurrection, and pleaded guilty for knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. She was sentenced to 12 months of probation, 60 hours of community service and had to pay $500 in restitution.
Leonard Pearso Ridge IV, Feasterville-Trevose
Ridge was 19 years old on the date of the insurrection, and while he didn’t seem to partake in any of the heinous violence, he did take videos of entering the Capitol building, which the FBI used as evidence when making the arrest. He pleaded guilty to entering Restricted Building and Grounds, and was sentenced to 14 days in prison, as well as 100 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.
Gary Edwards, Churchville
Edwards was also caught due to social media after his wife made a now deleted Facebook post defending his actions at the Capital, which was soon sent to federal authorities. Videos in the building showed Edwards walking around and assisting insurrectionists who had been tear gassed. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building, and was sentenced to one year of probation, including 200 hours of community service, and a $2,500 fine.
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James Sinclair, Bensalem
Sinclair, who traveled to D.C. from Philadelphia, was arrested the night of January 6th for breaking the imposed curfew after the insurrection. While being asked questions, Sinclair said that he only was at the rally, but did not go into the Capital. While being searched, police found a pair of brass knuckles on him, and he was arrested for possessing a prohibited weapon. Sinclair was also caught on social media supporting the insurrection, saying that, “It’s 1776, the American people have ears and eyes. We will not accept this fraudulent election”. After being arrested, Sinclair entered into a diversion agreement with prosecutors, which stipulated that he must stay away from Washington, D.C., except to meet with his attorney or pretrial services, and must not violate the law.
Christopher Taylor, Levittown
Taylor was the most recent Bucks County citizen to be caught at the Jan. 6 riot. In January of last year, he was arrested after a year-long FBI investigation into what role Taylor played after entering the building. In August, he pleaded guilty to a single count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and was sentenced in November to 24 months of probation, as also had to pay $500 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.
