James McGrew

Suffering from serious brain and spinal wounds as well as PTSD, James managed to start college. He was on track to finish in two years with a degree in Psychology. James hoped to one day work with the veterans, the homeless, battered women and those less fortunate.

James never had an issue with his temper growing up but the events that unfolded in the 2020 election triggered some deep emotions. James decided to attend the January 6^th inauguration to let his feelings be known.  In his estimation, the random stoppage of ballot counting, the lack of non-partisan observers as well as several other inconsistencies truly disturb him as well as a large segment of the population.

The idea of going was probably not his best decision, as he will admit, but James was not prepared for what was going to happen next.  He assumed it would be a peaceful protest.   It was, until it wasn’t.  Agitators that were later unveiled as government employees of the FBI and other departments, ginned up the crowd along with some violent young men just ‘itching’ for a fight with someone, anyone. 

After the address from President Trump, parts of the crowd got unruly and headed towards the capital building. James, a father of two, was in the crowd who were immediately blocked by D.C. Police as well as other sworn officers. The scene was not pretty.  James’ emotions got away from him and he wrestled with one officer and tried to grab the baton of another.  Fists were flying, tempers flaring and chaos was the order of the day.  But what tipped it for James was when he grabbed a wooden hand rail and threw it towards a group of policemen.  James knew deep down that this was not right.  It was a bad move and he instantly regretted it.  But it was over now. No one was hurt or injured and the boost of adrenaline that stemmed from the anger and the PSTD subsided. He turned to leave.

Then, on May 28, 2021, James McGrew was taken into custody in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix from his sister’s home.  In August of that same year, James was standing before a federal judge and, at the advice of his attorney, pled guilty to all charges to avoid a costly trial and he was told, receive a lesser sentence.  In the DC system, that is not the case. In his plea agreement, McGrew admitted joining the throng of protestors pushing back against police officers.  That included by his own admission, shoving officers, attempting to stealing another’s baton and of course, throwing a large wooden handrail.  It didn’t help that like several of the protestors, McGrew filmed it all on his cellphone.

McGrew was sentenced to 6 ½ year in prison for assaulting law enforcement officers. In fact, other protestors, agitators and downright criminals around the nation had been getting off scot-free or commuted sentences for offenses such as burning federal buildings and beating police officers.  It seemed to James that this was nothing more than political payback and not a true ‘let the punishment fit the crime’ decision.  On top of long sentence, the judge ordered another 3 years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine and another $2,000 for restitution.

Today, he’s served over two years of his sentence. His life, his work, as difficult as it was with the head trauma, spinal injuries and PTSD, will be stalled or forever gone.