A ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has overturned a sentencing requirement for Jan. 6 defendant Daniel Goodwyn, which mandated government monitoring of his computer for “disinformation.”
According to Carolyn Stewart, Mr. Goodwyn’s attorney, Judge Walton had no legal basis to impose the special condition. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the judge had “plainly erred” in imposing the computer monitoring. Judges Gregory Katsas, Naomi Rao, and Bradley Garcia issued a per curiam order vacating the monitoring provision.
Mr. Goodwyn, a 35-year-old from Corinth, Texas, pleaded guilty on Jan. 31, 2023, to a misdemeanor count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, which could have resulted in up to a year in prison.
60 Days Behind Bars
On June 6, 2023, Judge Walton sentenced Mr. Goodwyn to 60 days in prison, a year of supervised release, a $2,500 fine, and a $500 restitution payment.
Mr. Goodwyn had requested time served with three months of supervised release. He received credit for three weeks in pretrial detention but not for the 13 months spent in home detention. He completed his prison term at the Federal Correctional Institution in Bastrop, Texas, on Aug. 25, 2023.
Mr. Goodwyn expressed agreement with the Court of Appeals’ decision, stating that Judge Walton’s imposition of the computer monitoring restriction was inconsistent with American law and tradition, violating First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Mr. Goodwyn claimed he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6 as a citizen journalist for StopHate.com and spent less than a minute inside the building through the Senate Wing Door at 3:32 p.m., as seen on security video.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Walton criticized Mr. Goodwyn for his beliefs about the 2020 presidential election and his appearance on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” The judge referred to Mr. Carlson as a “lightning rod” who had contributed to divisiveness.
Judge Walton’s sentencing included a requirement for computer monitoring during Mr. Goodwyn’s supervised release to check for disinformation spread on social media. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals found that the condition was imposed without proper legal basis and ordered a reevaluation by Judge Walton.
If Judge Walton chooses to reinstate the computer monitoring, he must provide legal justification, develop a record supporting the provision, ensure compliance with federal laws, and uphold constitutional protections.
