With President Donald Trump’s blanket pardon of “all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” the last of the Lebanon County residents to face prosecution over Jan. 6 have seen their cases dismissed or sentences commuted.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Palmyra resident Leo Brent Bozell IV was released Sunday, Jan. 20, immediately following President Trump’s pardon.
Bozell had been found guilty of 10 felony counts in a 2023 non-jury trial and sentenced to 45 months in jail. He at first appealed the conviction but later withdrew his appeal.
Bozell, son of nationally known Republican activist Brent Bozell III, was identified by a Hershey Christian Academy hoodie he was wearing.
Bozell was the only Lebanon County resident to be incarcerated because of Jan. 6 at the time the pardon was issued.
Joseph Fischer, a former North Cornwall Township police officer, had been awaiting a trial in February. Fischer faced trial on seven criminal charges and had pleaded not guilty to all of them. The government’s case against Fischer was dismissed in a motion filed Monday, Jan. 21.
Fischer’s attorney Lori Ulrich, a federal public defender, told PennLive that she was really happy for her clients, which also included Riley June Williams.
“They were wrong to be in the Capitol that day. But I do think the prosecution went overboard. I am only speaking in respect to my clients,” said Ulrich to PennLive.
Fischer’s case had been delayed while his appeal of an obstruction charge worked its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which found in Fischer’s favor with a decision that had national implications.
Fischer had been free on court-approved pretrial release, under the supervision of the federal Office of Probation and Pretrial Services, since shortly after his arrest in February 2021.
Read More:
- Supreme Court limits Jan. 6 obstruction charge against fired North Cornwall cop (June 2024)
- Ex-cop facing Jan. 6 charges won’t fight claim he threatened a ‘local official’ (April 2024)
- U.S. Supreme Court will hear appeal of ex local cop charged with January 6 crimes (December 2023)
- Appeals court rules against ex-North Cornwall cop charged with Jan. 6 crimes (April 2023)
- Court eases travel restrictions for suspended N. Cornwall cop charged in Jan. 6 Capitol invasion (June 2021)
- House arrest lifted for suspended N. Cornwall cop; prosecutor suggests Capitol invasion evidence and tactics (March 2021)
- Suspended North Cornwall cop released from prison pending trial (February 2021)
The widely expected blanket pardon came too late for other Lebanon County residents, who had already served sentences imposed for federal charges related to Jan. 6.
Myerstown resident Terry Brown pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor and was sentenced to 30 days house arrest and three years probation in December 2021.
Read More:
Cleona resident Cameron Hess pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of civil disorder and was sentenced to nine months incarceration in February. He was released Nov. 4, 2024.
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