Rebecca LaBrentz, known as the “J6 Praying Grandma,” was hit with a “financially devastating” fine, her lawyer told The Daily Caller.
LaBrentz was convicted of breaking into the Capitol on Jan. 6. Prosecutors said LaBrentz, 72, spent about 10 minutes inside the U.S. Capitol, according to The Associated Press. ReportedShe was reportedly fined $103,000 on Monday and sentenced to one year of probation, the first six months of which will be spent under house arrest without an internet connection.
“We believe this is the largest misdemeanor fine in American history,” John Pierce of the National Union for Constitutional Law and LaBrentz's attorney told the Caller. “If she has to pay the fine, it will financially ruin her.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) initially sought “10 months in prison, 12 months probation, 60 hours of community service, and $500 in restitution.” Court Documents.
Prosecutors say Labrenz's “unrepentant promotion of violence” was due to her “[es] Threat of future political violence.” (Related articles: Thomas Massie grills J6 committee chairman in pipe bomb investigation, Secret Service cleans phones)
“She's a great-grandmother in her mid-70s,” Pierce told the Caller, adding that LaBrentz went to the U.S. Capitol to pray.
“I never in my life imagined that my country would accuse me of a crime for exercising my religious freedom.” “J6 Praying Grandma” faces three years in prison. pic.twitter.com/addy6hmB17
— Grace Chung 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) April 5, 2024
she Send Send A donation box has been set up where supporters can donate to help with her legal costs.
Prosecutors accused Labrenz of “profiting from the notoriety that came from his conviction,” according to court documents.
Pierce told the Caller that LaBrennes wasn't trying to create celebrity status — “I think it's the fact that the Department of Justice is going after my great-grandmothers,” he argued, explaining how her story came to the attention of such important figures as former President Donald Trump.
Rebecca Lovellez, also known as the “J6 Praying Grandma,” has been unfairly targeted by the unscrupulous Joe Biden's Justice Department and faces up to a year in prison for peacefully walking through the Capitol building on January 6th and praying for our failing nation. Rebecca is a 72-year-old grandmother…
— Posts from Donald J. Trump's Truthful Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 5, 2024
“It got a lot of attention,” he continued, “not because she was trying to become a celebrity, but because they were targeting a praying great-grandmother.”
Pierce told the Caller he has only heard of internet bans in situations where it was “extremely compelling from a safety standpoint,” such as child pornography cases.
Pierce's law firm, John Pierce Law Offices Represented According to his biography on his website, he has represented more than 20 defendants from Jan. 6. “We represent a lot of misdemeanor defendants who are not involved in any type of violence or destruction of property,” he told the Caller.
He told the Caller that his office has been overall successful in not giving defendants prison time or “light punishments.”
“Nobody has ever been fined anywhere near that amount,” Pierce said. “The largest fine we've ever had was $20,000, and that was in a case involving an assault allegation and conviction.”
Magistrate Zia Faruqui told Labrenz that while her case was less serious than others, “it is still a serious crime,” according to the Associated Press. (Related story: Federal judge releases man sentenced to prison in connection with January 6th incident)
Pierce told the Caller that there was “absolutely no indication of any kind of intimidation” from Lavrentz.
“I think these judges are trying to apply the law fairly,” Pierce said. “There's some kind of bias that's ingrained in anybody in Washington, including these judges.”
He noted it may be difficult for these judges to “understand the mindset” of people who have traveled from across the country to protest.
