Lewis Wayne Snoots, a Virginia man, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, during which he assisted in the violent assault of Officer Michael Fanone. The assault, which took place as rioters overwhelmed law enforcement, included severe physical violence, with Fanone being tased repeatedly and dragged into the mob. The officer suffered a heart attack, traumatic brain injury, and other lasting effects from the attack.
Snoots, 59, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. His involvement was particularly significant as he restrained Officer Fanone’s right arm while other rioters tased him, threatened to use his own gun against him, and shouted “kill him!” during the brutal assault. Video footage from the scene shows Snoots placing his hand on Fanone’s back as he was pulled into the crowd, where he was kicked, punched, and attacked with a taser.
Fanone, who attended Snoots’ sentencing hearing, has since retired from the police force due to the injuries sustained that day. The emotional toll of the attack and subsequent harassment and threats against him and his family have been difficult for him to cope with. He expressed his feelings of betrayal by his country in an interview following the sentencing.
Prosecutors requested the maximum sentence of 71 months for Snoots, emphasizing his direct role in restraining Officer Fanone and enabling the mob’s violent actions. The sentencing memo described how Snoots actively assisted in dragging Fanone from the relative safety of a police tunnel and into the violent crowd, where rioters continued their brutal assault.
In contrast, Snoots’ defense attorney, William Shipley, downplayed his client’s actions, claiming that Snoots was only briefly involved in the altercation and that his contact with Fanone did not result in any injuries. Shipley argued for a sentence of 36 months probation instead of prison time.
The events in question took place around 3:14 p.m. on January 6, when Snoots and other rioters attempted to overpower police in a tunnel on the Capitol grounds. During the chaos, Snoots was seen interacting with a police shield that was being used to defend against the mob. When police attempted to retrieve the shield, Snoots grabbed it and passed it back to rioters, who continued their assault.
At one point, a rioter wrapped his arm around Fanone’s neck, dragging him into the crowd. The mob then began attacking Fanone, stripping him of his badge and radio, and attempting to take his weapon. During this time, Snoots restrained the officer’s arm, contributing to the violent mob’s efforts.
Afterward, Snoots recorded a video in which he expressed frustration with the situation, claiming that the events were far from over and that the rioters would not back down.
Snoots’ sentencing comes at a time when President-elect Donald Trump, who has previously expressed support for pardoning those involved in the January 6 riots, is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. It remains uncertain whether Trump will follow through with such pardons, but the case highlights the ongoing legal and emotional consequences of the violent attack on the Capitol.
