‘Bob’s Burgers’ Voice Actor Who Participated In Failed U.S. Coup Attempt Is Sentenced To Prison

Jay James Johnston, who voiced the antagonist Jimmy Pesto Sr. on Bob’s Burgers, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for his actions during the January 6, 2021 attempted coup of the U.S. government by supporters of president Donald Trump.

The prison sentence stems from Johnston’s guilty plea last July to a felony charge of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the prison term, Johnston’s sentence include two years of supervised release after prison and an order to pay $2,000 in restitution.

Details about Johnson’s actions on January 6 can be found in this news release from the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia. Per court documents, Johnston, 55, used a stolen U.S. Capitol police riot shield and participated in multiple efforts to push against the police line.

“The news has presented it as an attack,” Johnston texted an acquaintance after the coup attempt. “It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed and I found it quite untastic.”

Federal prosecutors had asked the judge for a longer 18-month sentence for Johnston arguing that he had “made light of his participation in the riot by dressing up as Jacob Chansley, known as the ‘QAnon Shaman,’ at a Halloween party that he attended.” The U.S. District Court released this photo of Johnston dressed as Chansley:

Following his participation, Johnston was “banned” from the cast of Bob’s Burgers in December 2021. The decision was reportedly made by “top staff” on the series.

Besides his work on Bob’s Burgers, Johnston’s other voice acting credits include Rick and Morty, Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole, and Moral Orel, the latter of which he also directed and produced. His onscreen credits include Better Call Saul, Arrested Development, The Sarah Silverman Program, and Mr. Show with Bob and David.

In the nearly four years since the events of January 6, more than 1,500 individuals have been charged for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 570 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.