Nathaniel Tuck, a former police officer and member of the Proud Boys, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. Tuck, 32, pleaded guilty to obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, a felony, and trespassing, a misdemeanor. His actions were part of a coordinated effort by members of the Proud Boys to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
Tuck was a member of the “Space Coast” chapter of the Proud Boys and traveled to Washington, D.C., with his father and other group members. Prosecutors revealed that Tuck and his group planned their actions for weeks, culminating in their participation in the first wave of rioters to breach the Capitol grounds. Once inside, Tuck made physical contact with a police officer and joined others in taunting law enforcement. He remained in the Capitol for nearly an hour before leaving and later posed for a celebratory photograph with other Proud Boys.
In text messages to his family following the riot, Tuck admitted to fighting the police and expressed frustration over the lack of stimulus checks. When federal authorities began charging members of the group, he dismissed the charges as excessive. In conversations with his father, Tuck suggested that violence was the only way to achieve their goals, reflecting the extremist ideology that fueled his actions.
Tuck’s defense argued for leniency, claiming he was not violent on January 6 and primarily observed the conduct of others. His attorney described him as a family man with no prior history of violence. However, prosecutors emphasized his role as a former police officer, noting that his training and experience should have deterred him from participating in such actions. Tuck had previously worked as a police officer in Florida but resigned in 2020, citing dissatisfaction with the profession following nationwide protests against police brutality.
Tuck’s father, also a former police officer, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to the Capitol breach and is awaiting sentencing. Their involvement underscores the participation of individuals with law enforcement backgrounds in the events of January 6.
The Capitol riot has led to charges against over 1,400 individuals, with sentences ranging widely based on the severity of their actions. Tuck’s case is one of many involving members of extremist groups who played key roles in the attack. Among his co-defendants, several have received significant prison sentences, including one individual convicted of seditious conspiracy.
The events of January 6 marked a historic attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power in the United States. Sentencing decisions for participants like Tuck highlight ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their roles in the unprecedented attack.
