Washington, D.C. – Three men from South Jersey were sentenced to probation on Friday after being present inside the U.S. Capitol during the riot that attempted to disrupt the certification of the presidential election on January 6, 2021.

David Krauss, 56, of Sewell in Mantua Township, his son Nicholas Krauss, 33, from Pitman, and David’s friend, Russell Dodge Jr., 40, of Pedricktown in Oldsman Township, pleaded guilty in April to the misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing inside a Capitol building.

Federal Judge James E. Boasberg handed down their sentences, which consisted of nine months of probation, a $1,000 fine, and $500 in restitution, according to court records.

The trio, who are all involved in the property rental, management, and construction business, made the trip to Washington together and faced charges collectively.

In the presentence reports, the defense lawyers portrayed their clients as law-abiding family men who had visited the nation’s capital to hear the former president speak and had only briefly entered the Capitol.

One of the defense lawyers claimed that Dodge had obeyed police orders to leave the building and stated that he should receive 12 months of probation.

The Krauss’ lawyer argued that his clients had even tried to prevent others from causing damage. He compared their case to that of a protester who was arrested during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2018 and paid a $50 fine.

The defense lawyer further contended that the events of January 6 have been treated differently than other protests that resulted in significant destruction, such as Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

A federal prosecutor acknowledged in the government’s sentencing report that the trio had only been inside the Capitol for about 17 minutes. The prosecutor also noted their cooperation with the FBI and their prompt guilty pleas after their November 2022 arrests.

However, the prosecutor argued that the three men should receive different sentences based on the level of their expressed remorse, suggesting home confinement as a possible punishment.

In a letter to the judge, Nicholas Krauss expressed sincere regret, stating that he had only intended to watch the president speak and would not have entered the Capitol had he known what would unfold. The prosecutor recommended 75 days of home detention, 60 hours of community service, and $500 in restitution for him.

For David Krauss and Dodge, the prosecutor proposed 90 days of home detention, 60 hours of community service, and the same restitution amount. The defense lawyer for David Krauss was criticized for a perceived lack of remorse.

Russell Dodge, on the other hand, was reported to have shown no remorse at all, according to the prosecutor.

In conclusion, the South Jersey men involved in the Capitol incident received probation and fines for their actions. The court considered factors such as their level of remorse and cooperation with law enforcement in determining their sentences.