SEATTLE — On Friday, a man who hit a Seattle police officer in the head with a baseball bat during the 2020 Capitol Hill riots was sentenced in King County Superior Court.
Jacob Greenburg was sentenced to five years in prison for attacking Seattle officer Jose Jimenez.
Greenburg was initially charged with attempted arson and reckless burning but prosecutors later found out he was the protester seen in a video ambushing the bike officer from behind with a bat.
The impact from the bat put a crack through Jimenez’s helmet.
Prosecutors also accused Greenburg of plotting sophisticated firebomb attacks on police buildings with a “protest buddy” who, according to court documents, turned out to be working as a local real estate agent.
Court charging documents indicate Greenburg set up elaborate plans and plots to burn SPD’s East Precinct during riots using Molotov cocktails. Detectives say they found text conversations between Greenberg and a woman they identified as Danielle E. McMillan of Everett regarding gathering materials to build the bombs.
Prosecutors say the two were involved in riots and planned attacks on buildings from the East Precinct to the SPD Guild.
As for Greenburg’s sentencing and after negotiations, he was sentenced for first-degree attempted arson, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree reckless burning, which resulted in an “exceptional sentence” of 60 months followed by 18 months of community custody with the Department of Corrections.
During Friday’s sentencing, officer Jimenez spoke about the incident, saying “My head almost got taken off that night. That impact that night, I did not feel the repercussions that I’m going to have to live through.”
“I can’t even explain how horrible it felt being at the East Precinct behind that line and just experiencing all that hate.”
“I don’t know how much worse my headaches might get when I get older,” he said.
Greenburg is the stepson of former State Rep. Laura Ruderman, who served the 45th Legislative District as a Democrat from 1999 to 2005.
During his sentencing, Greenburg apologized and said, “I take full responsibility of my actions and for that, I want to apologize to you, your honor, and this court.”
Greenburg’s so-called “protest buddy” Danielle McMillan was also sentenced for first-degree reckless burning. She received 60 days in jail, followed by 12 months of community custody and will be required to pay restitution.
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