By Ryan J. Reilly -
NBC News
A retired New York Police Department officer who was convicted of multiple felony charges for attacking a Washington police officer with a flagpole on Jan. 6 and then knocking him to the ground and trying to rip off his gas mask was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison.
Judge Amit P. Mehta handed Thomas Webster the longest sentence ever in the Capitol attack case.
According to a Justice Department court filing, Thomas Webster appears to have assaulted a federal agent with a deadly weapon outside the US Capitol. Justice Department
Webster, 56, was found guilty by a jury in May after they found he lied on the stand when he tried to convince them he was trying to help the officer by showing his hands when he grabbed the officer's gas mask after throwing him to the ground.
No one should be "happy" that Webster is facing 17.5 years in federal prison, Mehta said Thursday.
"What he did that day is hard to put into words," Mehta told Webster.
"I'm still in shock every time I see it [the video of the attack]."
Mehta added that Webster was "the first assailant" in his confrontation with the DC police officer, and that "all hell broke loose" in the police line when he showed up there.
"Nothing can explain or justify Mr. Webster's fury," Assistant District Attorney Hava Arin Levenson Mirell told the judge.
"No one knows better than an ex-cop how dangerous January 6 was," the federal prosecutor said, adding that Webster's service made his behavior "particularly egregious."
Even if he didn't know he "should believe Trump's lie," he knew not to assault the officers, Mirell stressed.
"He feels entitled to do what he wants as a former police officer," he added.
Webster was "old school" and "rogue" on Jan. 6, he said, adding that he "instigated violence" and was clearly anticipating a violent confrontation.
This is a developing story.
Please check back for updates.