Jay Johnston, who brought the character of Jimmy Pesto on Bob's Burgers to life, has been sentenced to a year and a day behind bars. He pleaded guilty this July to the felony offense of obstructing officers during a civil disorder during the U.S. Capitol Riot of January 6, 2021.
Jay Johnston voiced Jimmy Pesto, the owner of Jimmy Pesto's Pizzeria, from 2011 until he was fired in December 2022, when the allegations against him involving his role in the Capitol Riot came to light. His role was consequently filled in by Eric Bauza.
Jay Johnston says he was "ignorant" on the day of the Capitol Riot
On the day of, the 56-year-old actor joined forces with other rioters to push back against police personnel manning the tunnel entrance that led to the Capitol. He was ostensibly in high spirits that day, given that he jested and engaged with others present that day, all the while recording the violence around him on his phone.
According to NPR, Jay Johnston, who also clutched a stolen police shield over his head and passed it around on the day of the riot, expressed remorse for his ways. He said he felt bad for making it "more difficult for the police to do their job." He told U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols,
"That was because of my own ignorance, I believe. If I had been more political, I could have seen that coming, perhaps.”
According to CBS News, however, Johnston implored the judge to grant him leniency in his sentencing, asserting that his days with Bob's Burgers were long over, and he had been struggling to find gigs since his arrest.
While Johnston was given a year and a day in prison, he remains free until the agreed-upon date, when he will have to turn himself in. It remains unknown exactly when said date is.
Judge Nichols also acknowledged the Arrested Development actor's plight, noting that he would not be privy to seeing his 13-year-old autistic daughter grow up in the coming year. However, the judge said,
"His conduct on January 6th was quite problematic. Reprehensible, really."
He also used his acting career against him, pointing out that it made his behavior "all the more inexplicable and troubling."
According to the BBC, prosecutors moved for a lengthier sentence, while his lawyers contended that the US has "persistently overstated" just how big of a role Johnston had in the riot. Stanley Woodward, his legal representation, alleged that his client is being unfairly targeted
"because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor, and the government is using his status to make a point to the public."
He continued, positing that Jay Johnston has "essentially been blacklisted by Hollywood" and "has worked as a handyman for the last two years – an obvious far cry from his actual expertise and livelihood in film and television."
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Apart from Bob's Burgers, Jay Johnston has had stints on Arrested Development, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and Mr. Show with Bob and David.
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