Capitol rioter cuts plea deal in assault of officer who died from stroke

A Capitol rioter took a plea deal in connection with the assault of a Capitol police officer who died the next day from a stroke.

George Tanios, 40, passed bear spray to his pal Julian Khater, 33, during the attack on Jan. 6, 2021. Khater then sprayed three cops with the bear repellent, according to video from the scene.

One of those officers was 42-year-old Brian Sicknick. Sicknick died on the night of Jan. 7 from a stroke. The Washington, D.C. medical examiner ruled Sicknick died from natural causes and not from any injuries suffered during the riot.

George Tanios, pictured in 2017, ran a sandwich shop in Morgantown, W.Va., near West Virginia University's campus. (Andrew Spellman/)

Because Tanios and Khater were caught on video attacking Sicknick, their case became one of the higher profile investigations tied to the Capitol riot.

Tanios pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, both misdemeanors.

His plea deal recommends he serve a maximum of six months in prison. Given that he already served five months after his initial arrest and could get credit for time served, he may serve no more jail time at all. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Khater is facing a much heftier sentence because he was the one who used the bear mace, whereas Tanios simply provided it. The feds offered Khater a deal in which he would plead guilty to assaulting a police officer and serve 6½ to 8 years in prison. Khater’s attorney said Wednesday that his client is still debating whether to take the deal or not.

If Khater does accept, he’ll start serving the longest sentence of any Capitol rioter so far. The current record is held by two men each serving five years and three months for separate incidents.

With News Wire Services