Arkansas Man Gets 52 Months for Capitol Beatdown

Conway, Arkansas resident Peter Francis Stager, 44, will spend the next four years and four months behind bars for his violent role in the January 6th U.S. Capitol breach. Stager pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon – specifically, a goddamn flagpole – and got exactly what he deserved. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, is another win in the ongoing effort to hold accountable those who attacked the seat of American democracy.

The feds say Stager was part of the mob that descended on the Lower West Terrace entrance of the Capitol, a chaotic scene where rioters clashed violently with law enforcement. Witnesses and video evidence show Stager didn’t just *observe* the violence; he actively participated. For nearly two hours, officers were battling the crowd, pushed back and forth as the mob tried to force its way inside. Stager, positioned near a set of steps, watched as his fellow rioters dragged a police officer – face down and headfirst – from the police line and into the surging crowd.

Then, Stager escalated things. He raised his flagpole, bearing an American flag, and began brutally beating the already downed officer, striking him at least three times. The whole thing was captured on video, a clear and damning record of Stager’s assault. He didn’t stop there. After the beating, Stager climbed the steps towards another officer struggling to fend off attacks and unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse, yelling, “Fuck you! Fucking traitor!” – a clear indication of his contempt for those sworn to uphold the law.

Stager’s guilty plea, entered on February 16, 2023, paved the way for the sentencing. In addition to the 52-month prison term, Contreras ordered 36 months of supervised release following Stager’s incarceration. He’s also on the hook for $2,000 in restitution, a small price to pay for the damage he inflicted. This wasn’t a peaceful protest; it was a calculated attack, and Stager was a willing participant.

Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division led the case. They’ve been relentless in pursuing charges against hundreds of individuals involved in the January 6th riot, and this sentencing is just one example of their success. The investigation is far from over, with numerous other defendants still awaiting trial or sentencing.

The January 6th attack was a dark day for this country, and the consequences need to be severe. Stager’s sentence sends a message: attacking law enforcement and attempting to subvert the democratic process will not be tolerated. While 52 months isn’t a lifetime, it’s a significant punishment and a step towards accountability. The feds are continuing to dig, and more January 6th rioters will undoubtedly face similar – or even harsher – penalties in the days and months to come.