William Lewis, an Army veteran from Illinois, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. Lewis, 58, had previously pleaded guilty to felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. During the chaotic events of that day, he confronted police officers guarding the Capitol and sprayed them multiple times with “No Pest Wasp & Hornet Killer.” This act worsened the officers’ situation as they struggled to prevent the mob from advancing.
In addition to spraying the officers, Lewis furthered the mob’s illegal actions by attacking a window on the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace. Armed with a stolen police baton, he shattered three panes of glass. Prosecutors noted that Lewis showed no remorse for his actions. In interviews, he admitted to attending the Capitol to support Donald Trump and to encourage Congress to reject the 2020 presidential election results, which he believed were “stolen.”
Lewis claimed he did not intend to harm the officers with the wasp spray, but instead, he said he was trying to help the police by neutralizing the effects of pepper spray used by the officers on the rioters. However, prosecutors highlighted his criminal history, including past incidents of burglary and violent threats, as well as his troubled military service, which included multiple DUI offenses and a discharge due to reckless behavior.
His defense attorney, Blaire C. Dalton, argued for a reduced sentence, citing Lewis’s struggles with addiction and undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his military service in Iraq. Dalton emphasized that Lewis had devoted his life to helping others but had been misled into participating in the Capitol riot, a day he deeply regretted.
Despite these claims, prosecutors argued that Lewis’s actions on January 6 were particularly troubling given his military background. As a former member of the Armed Forces, he should have understood the importance of following the law and respecting government institutions. They contended that his participation in the riot undermined the Constitution and the democratic process.
During the riot, at least five Metropolitan Police Department officers were hit with the wasp spray, causing a burning sensation and eye irritation. After spraying a third time, Lewis discarded the canister, further escalating the confrontation. His actions were widely condemned, and online observers even dubbed him “CarharttWasp” due to his attire and use of the wasp spray.
The sentencing reflects the seriousness with which the courts are addressing the events of January 6, and the impact of the riot on both law enforcement and the broader democratic process.
