An Olive Branch man was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Matthew Bledsoe, 38, of Olive Branch, was found guilty by a jury in Washington D.C. on Friday. His sentence includes the felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding, four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
“According to the government’s evidence, in the days immediately following the Nov. 3rd, 2020, election, Bledsoe began posting to social media about the presidential election,” reads a statement from the U.S. District Attorney’s office. “On January 6th, 2021, he attended a rally near the Ellipse. Bledsoe then headed to the Capitol, and illegally entered the Capitol grounds shortly after 2:13 p.m.
“He then moved to the Capitol building itself. He scaled a wall at the Upper Northwest Terrace and entered through a fire door at the Senate Wing. Among other things, he yelled, ’In the Capitol. This is our house. We pay for this shit. Where’s those pieces of shit at?’
‘In the Capitol. This is our house. We pay for this shit. Where’s those pieces of shit at?’
Matthew Bledsoe, according to government evidence
“He climbed a statue and was outside the corridor to the House Chamber and hallways near the Speaker’s Lobby. He left the building about 2:47 p.m., after approximately 22 minutes inside. Within two hours, however, Bledsoe returned, lingering outside the East Rotunda Doors as law enforcement officers worked to secure the building and grounds.
“In the days following the riot, Bledsoe continued to message with friends and family and post on social media regarding what happened on January 6th. For example, on January 7th, he posted on Facebook photos of members of Congress taking cover and security officers defending the members during the riot. One caption read, “How corrupt politicians should feel.”
Bledsoe, formerly of Cordova, was arrested on January 13th, 2021. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also must pay $2,000 in restitution and a fine of $2,000.
In the 21 months since January 6th, 2021, more than 880 have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 270 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
