HELENA, Montana — A business owner from Montana, who has publicly backed former President Donald Trump, has received a two-year federal prison term for his involvement in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This event disrupted the certification process of the 2020 Electoral College results.
Henry Phillip “Hank” Muntzer, 55, hailing from Dillon, was also given a one-year supervised release and ordered to reimburse $2,000 in restitution during his sentencing on Thursday.
Following his arrest two weeks after the Capitol riot, authorities cited social media posts and videos that captured Muntzer’s actions inside the Capitol as evidence. Court records indicate that he was found guilty in February of committing felonies, including obstructing an official proceeding and civil disorder, after a bench trial presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb. Muntzer also faced four additional misdemeanor charges; however, the obstruction charge was dismissed before sentencing due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that has raised the burden of proof for such allegations.
Prosecutors established that Muntzer, accompanied by friends, traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the “Stop the Steal” rally. After listening to Trump’s address at the Ellipse, Muntzer walked towards the Capitol with the crowd, spending approximately 38 minutes inside. Reports indicated that he engaged in altercations with law enforcement officials near the Senate chamber and inside the Capitol Rotunda, resisted attempts by law enforcement to expel him, and was among the last individuals to exit the building.
To date, over 1,500 people have faced federal charges linked to the Capitol riot, with more than 1,000 individuals convicted. Approximately 650 of these offenders have been sentenced to prison terms that range from just a few days to as long as 22 years.
In his hometown of Dillon, Muntzer has gained attention for the pro-QAnon mural adorning the façade of his appliance store, a fact reported by the Dillon Tribune. Many followers of the QAnon movement subscribe to unfounded conspiracy theories.
