A Minnesota man will spend four years in prison after pleading guilty to crime related to the arson of a police station in Minneapolis during the riots over George Floyd’s death last summer.
“Dylan Shakespeare Robinson, 23, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy to commit arson. He was accused of lighting a Molotov cocktail that another person threw at the Third Precinct headquarters in Minneapolis,” Fox News reported.
Along with the four-year prison sentence, Robinson faces an enormous $12 million fine for the damage done to the police station in the attack.
On the night of the attack, a crowd gathered outside the precinct, shouting “Burn it down,” according to KTSP. Shortly thereafter, a fence crafted to keep the crowd away from the precinct was torn down. That’s when Robinson, along with his co-conspirators, attacked the police station with Molotov cocktails.
Robinson was caught using surveillance footage from the precinct, and by posting videos to his Snapchat account during the event.
“On the night of May 28, 2020, Mr. Robinson chose to depart from lawful protest and instead engaged in violence and destruction. The arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct put lives at risk and contributed to widespread lawlessness in Minneapolis,” acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk reportedly said. “With today’s sentence, Mr. Robinson is held accountable for his actions.”
Three other men, all in their mid to late 20’s, have pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson, and will be sentenced at a later date.
Robinson’s lawyer, William J. Mauzy said it was unfair that his client is bearing the brunt of the sentencing.
“Many others, far more culpable than Mr. Robinson, were not identified,” Mauzy said. “He had no role in throwing any Molotov cocktails or constructing any or building any.”
Mauzy said there is no realistic chance that Robinson will ever be able to pay the $12 million fine.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Minnesota Sun and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
