Former Bob's Burgers Actor Jay Johnston Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Role in January 6 Capitol Riots

Jay Johnston, the former voice of Bob's Burgers antagonist Jimmy Pesto in addition to other roles including Mr. Show and Arrested Development, has been sentenced to a year and one day in prison for participating in the riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. NBC News was the first to report the story.

The #FBI is still seeking information on people who took part in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you know this individual, visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. Refer to photo 247 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/CetMHzU190

Johnston was one of many protesters supporting President Donald Trump who broke into the Capitol as Vice President Mike Pence certified the 2020 election. Images of Johnston wearing a camouflage mask circulated on Twitter and elsewhere after the attacks and he was arrested in June 2023. The actor was subsequently charged with civil disorder, entering or remaining in a building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings.

Federal prosecutors sought an 18 month sentence in federal prison for Johnston, saying that he spent about 10 minutes in the lower west tunnel that leads into the Capitol, where he helped form a "shield wall" against police officers on the scene among other actions. Johnston later claimed in a text message to one of his colleagues, "The news has presented it as an attack. 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."

Jay Johnston in Bob's Burgers. Image source: 20th Century Studios.

Johnston subsequently pleaded guilty to civil disorder in July 2024, calling his participation a "horrible oversight." Bob's Burgers responded to the arrest by cutting ties with Johnston and introducing Eric Bauza as the new voice of Bob Belcher's arch-nemesis. Bauza made his debut in the Season 14 episode "Bully-ieve It Or Not" on November 5, 2023.

Johnston's last appearance on Bob's Burgers was in Season 11, with his defense claiming that he was "blacklisted by Hollywood, and has since not been able to find work in acting." In addition to the prison sentence, he must pay $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol and complete 40 hours of community service.

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.