What happened to the former Bob's Burgers voice actor Jay Johnston? The actor who brought Jimmy Pesto Sr. to life on the hit cartoon has been sentenced to a year in prison following his participation in the 2021 US Capitol riot. Here's everything you need to know!
Jay Johnston Sentenced to Prison For His Involvement in the 2021 US Capitol Riot
On January 6, 2021, Jay Johnston was convicted of a felony for participating in the US Capitol riot, as reported by ABC News.
The 56-year-old former voice actor on Bob's Burgers pleaded guilty in July for interfering with law enforcement officers, as seen in videos showing Johnston helping the mob of Trump supporters storm the US Capitol.
Johnston attended then-President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally near the White House before marching to the Capitol.
Prosecutors sought 18 months in prison for Johnston, whose lawyers argued that the US "persistently overstated" the actor's role during the attack.
However, according to the US prosecutors, Johnston "showed little remorse for his actions" and referred to the picture showing Johnston dressed up as the "QAnon Shaman" at a Halloween party two years after the 2021 riot.
Nearly 1,500 people had been charged for their participation in the January 6 2021 riot. While 900 pleaded guilty to other crimes, more than 180 were convicted at trial, according to US Justice Department figures.
As of writing, Jay Johnston has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for his involvement in the riot.
The Former Voice Talent on Bob's Burgers Got Fired in 2021
Jay Johnston, who was best known for voicing Jimmy Pesto for over 40 episodes in the cartoon series Bob's Burgers, was fired from the show in December 2021 after being identified as a potential rioter.
In his Hollywood career, Johnston also appeared in HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David, Arrested Development, and the hit comedy film Anchorman.
According to Johnston's lawyer, defense attorney Stanley Woodard, Johnston has "essentially been blacklisted" in Hollywood, "Instead, Mr. Johnston has worked as a handyman for the last two years — an obvious far cry from his actual expertise and livelihood in film and television."
Woodard was reported to have accused the government of exaggerating Johnston's participation "because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor."
READ NEXT: Below Deck Sailing Yacht: Did Glenn Fire Chef Cloyce in S5? What the Captain Has to Say
Make sure to follow our official Facebook page for more news and explainer articles about your favorite films and TV shows!