Man sentenced to 5 years in prison after torching Nashville City Hall during Floyd riot

A Nashville-area man was sentenced to 5 years in federal jail final week after being labeled “the face of the try and burn down Metropolis Corridor,” in line with courtroom filings.

Wesley Somers, 26, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Decide Aleta A. Trauger to 5 years in jail, adopted by three years of supervised launch, in line with U.S. Legal professional Mark H. Wildasin for the Center District of Tennessee.

Somers was sentenced after being arrested in Might 2020 by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Division (MNPD) on state arson fees. He was later charged by federal prosecutors with malicious destruction of property utilizing hearth or explosives for his position within the destruction of the Metro Courthouse, which additionally serves as Nashville Metropolis Corridor.

TENNESSEE MAN FACING FEDERAL ARSON CHARGES STEMMING FROM NASHVILLE COURTHOUSE FIRE

“On Might 30, 2020, scores of native, state and federal regulation enforcement officers stood prepared to guard the Constitutional proper of each citizen to interact in peaceable protests,” Wildasin mentioned. “Sadly, Somers and others interfered with a lawful meeting and resorted to violence and harmful habits, which resulted in vital property injury and positioned many liable to hurt. We’ll all the time defend the appropriate of each particular person to train their First Modification liberties however is not going to tolerate the actions of those that select to use peaceable protest by resorting to violence and intimidation.”

Nashville Metropolis Corridor, Tennessee

Video clips and images present a shirtless man recognized as Somers smashing a courthouse window and setting hearth to an accelerant and putting it contained in the window following a peaceable Might 30 protest in downtown Nashville, a launch mentioned on the time.

A number of chest tattoos on Somers depicting the phrases “WILD CHILD” and “HARD 2 Love” helped authorities determine him, prosecutors mentioned. He faces as much as 20 years in jail if convicted.

The courthouse home windows have been smashed and fires have been began contained in the constructing throughout Saturday night time’s rioting, the Knoxville Information Sentinel reported. A plaque commemorating the civil rights motion was additionally destroyed.

Fox Information’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.