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Former "Bob's Burgers" actor Jay Johnston pled guilty Monday to a felony count of obstructing officers during civil disorder for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Bob's Burgers actor pleads guilty over Capitol riot : Participation in the Capitol Attack

Johnston, who has also appeared on TV shows such as "Arrested Development" and in the film "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," was first indicted last year after being caught on camera passing a stolen police shield to other rioters. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated that Johnston was seen with a group of rioters using a "shield wall" to push against a line of officers defending the Capitol's West Terrace Tunnel entrance.

Sentencing and Legal Proceedings

Johnston, 55, faces sentencing in October, with his offense carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison. As part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Johnston will be spared a group of other charges, including assaulting an officer, unveiled in a superseding indictment last month. He was arraigned on those charges Monday morning in D.C. federal court before pleading guilty to the obstruction charge. "Johnston participated with other rioters in a group assault on the officers defending the [Lower West Terrace] entrance," an FBI agent wrote in last year's statement of facts. "Specifically, several members of the crowd joined together to push against police in a concerted movement. [Johnston] participated in this concerted movement and pushed along with other rioters for several seconds."

Bob's Burgers actor pleads guilty over Capitol riot : Further Involvement and Statements

Video footage shows Johnston leaving the tunnel but returning minutes later to continue pushing against the police line. According to the FBI, Johnston texted a friend that he was maced and tear-gassed, writing, "I found it quite untastic." After the hearing, Johnston and his attorney, Stanley Woodward Jr., declined to comment. Woodward mentioned that the government and Johnston's defense team had agreed upon the sentencing guidelines to be used by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Nichols set a deadline of September 30 for the government to submit its sentencing brief, with the defense brief due by October 3.

Career Repercussions

Johnston was reportedly fired from voicing the animated "Bob's Burgers" character Jimmy Pesto Sr. in 2021 after acknowledging his presence at the January 6 attack, according to the Daily Beast.

Bob's Burgers actor pleads guilty over Capitol riot : Representation

Jay Johnston is represented by Stanley E. Woodward Jr. and Ashleigh Bondoc of Brand Woodward Law LP. The U.S. Department of Justice is represented by Matthew M. Graves, Kaitlin Klamann, and Sean McCauley of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.