Da’Jon Lengyel (left) of McKees Rocks was sentenced Friday to 27 months in prison. Christopher West of Pittsburgh was ordered to serve four years. (Photo: Allegheny County SO)
Two Pennsylvania men have been sentenced to federal prison after they were convicted of destroying and attempting to burn a police vehicle during last year’s riots.
Da’Jon Lengyel, 24, of McKees Rocks was sentenced Friday to 27 months in prison. Christopher West, 36, of Pittsburgh was ordered to serve four years, receiving more time than Lengyel in part because of his criminal history, Fox News reports.
Videos showed two men identified by authorities as the defendants jumping up and down on the roof of the vehicle during protests on May 30, 2020, in downtown Pittsburgh. They are seen with other rioters trying to set a fire in the police car. Prosecutors said the group placed cardboard and paper into the passenger compartment and one ignited the material.
Both pleaded guilty earlier to conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder in connection to the riot.
"I know what I did was wrong, and I want to serve punishment for it," West said. "It was impulsive. I followed the crowd. I should have been a leader, not a follower."
