At the age of 63, in January 2021, I made a regrettable decision to travel to Washington DC to protest the 2020 election. COVID was still an issue at this time, and mask mandates were restricting spiritual and social norms. Authorities arrested me in Westminster California using flashbangs and attempted to force their way into my home. I was then transported to the Santa Anna federal courthouse, shackled with chains, and placed in a holding cell awaiting arraignment.
A grand jury convicted me on 8 felony counts which could carry a life sentence if found guilty. It took two and a half years to obtain a plea bargain agreement with the government to reduce the charges to only two felony charges as follows:
Count 1: civil disorder which has a statutory maximum of 5 years in jail and a fine of $250,000
Count 3: assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, which has a statutory maximum of 8 yrs in jail and a fine of $250,000
The judge sentenced me to serve 27 months in prison and pay a $2000.00 fine for restitution (payment for damage to the capitol building).
I have never been in trouble in the past, and am new to the justice-impacted system. I struggled with doing the right thing and fighting for the future of America. I followed my heart and values across the United states of America in hopes of ensuring and securing our freedom’s and liberty not knowing how I would accomplish this ideology. Edmund Burke stated “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. I felt very strongly that I had to do anything necessary triumph over this evil that had invaded our society and stole America’s single most important right as citizens of the free world, our vote. Unfortunately, I went about it the wrong way and I have decided that my life is more valuable helping people and improving their lives through my servant mentality and God given talents than trying to understand or disrupt government policies.
I made a commitment to reconcile with society and work toward building credentials that would empower me to live as a law-abiding, contributing citizen.
Kevin Galetto
