Levittown Veteran Avoids Jail For Entering Capitol On Jan. 6

An image that the FBI says shows Taylor. Credit: Court papers

A U.S. Air Force veteran from Levittown was sentenced for entering the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

Christopher Taylor was sentenced last week to 24 months of probation for his actions at the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss also ordered Taylor to pay $500 in restitution and a $25 special assessment.

Taylor pleaded guilty before Moss in August to a single count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, according to court records.

In a sentencing memorandum, Paul Lang, Taylor’s defense attorney, noted his client is a “devoted” family man who is “committed to living with gratitude and purpose.” He wrote that his client was “caught up in the moment” and realizes now the “seriousness of his actions,” adding the veteran is “deeply remorseful.”

“Chris Taylor’s brief and peaceful entry and exit from the Capitol highlight the federal government’s overaggressive approach to broadly prosecuting anyone connected to January 6. Frankly, worse behavior goes unchecked at Eagles tailgates without charges or prosecution. Despite Chris’ impeccable record, military service, full-time job, and dedication to his beautiful family, the government still sought to incarcerate him. I am relieved the federal judge rejected the government’s excessive request for jail time and instead recognized Chris as the peaceful veteran and devoted family man he continues to be,” Lang said in a statement to LevittownNow.com.

Federal prosecutors wrote in a filing that Taylor witnessed the crowd chanting as police officers attempted to hold them back. He also walked through areas with broken glass and debris and saw officers in riot gear standing guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead asked the court to impose a sentence of 14 days in prison, a year of supervised release, and 60 hours of community service, but the judge disagreed with the imprisonment.

“Having observed the riot take shape, Taylor faced a decision: turn back or move forward. He chose the latter, which provides ample support for the Government sentencing recommendation,” Burkhead wrote.

Taylor, who works for a corporation that is owned by the federal government, was arrested earlier this year as part of the large, nationwide investigation to the events leading up to and during the insurrection.

According to court papers, Taylor was not implicated in any violent acts during the insurrection that caused millions in damages and left more than 100 officers hurt.

An FBI special agent in Philadelphia detailed in a criminal complaint that a tip received in December 2021 led to Taylor’s identification and arrest. The tipster alleged that Taylor talked about entering the Capitol building after rioters breached police barricades.

During the investigation, FBI investigators matched Taylor’s PennDOT license photo to images captured inside and outside the Capitol during the attack and riot. These images depict Taylor, a U.S. Air Force veteran, wearing a camouflage hat and carrying a blue backpack, with a blue flag or banner around his neck.

According to authorities, Taylor entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing and recorded on his cell phone.

Taylor spent a total of 11 minutes inside, according to court filings from the prosecution and defense.

According to public records and timelines from Congress and law enforcement, Taylor allegedly entered the building more than an hour after Bristol resident Ryan Samsel and others broke through a police line and attacked officers on the Capitol grounds, which is considered a tipping point that inflamed what started out as a protest by supporters of then-President Donald Trump who were upset he lost the election. Taylor’s alleged 11 minutes in the building came before a U.S. Capitol Police officer shot and killed rioter Ashli Babbitt as she attempted to climb through a broken window and into a secured area as a mobbed raged around her.

Taylor is among several people from Bucks County, including some with Levittown ties, who have faced charges for their actions during the events of January 6, 2021.

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