NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee man who pleaded guilty to federal arson charges in connection with damage to the Metro Courthouse that followed protests in Nashville was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin said.
Wesley Somers, 26, of Hendersonville, was described in court filings as "the face of the attempt to burn down City Hall," Wildasin said in a statement.
Several people gathered at Nashville City Hall, also known as Metro Courthouse, in 2020, after protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The gathering at the courthouse resulted in people smashing windows and spraying graffiti, and a fire or fires were set inside the courthouse, the prosecutor's office said.
Somers was shown in video clips and photos from the event, and Nashville police identified him after receiving tips from citizens, the statement said.
"On May 30, 2020, scores of local, state and federal law enforcement officers stood ready to protect the Constitutional right of every citizen to engage in peaceful protests," Wildasin said. "Unfortunately, Somers and others interfered with a lawful assembly and resorted to violence and destructive behavior, which resulted in significant property damage and placed many at risk of harm. We will always defend the right of every individual to exercise their First Amendment liberties but will not tolerate the actions of those who choose to exploit peaceful protest by resorting to violence and intimidation."