Kos: Proud Boy who hid ax handle in American flag argues he'll lose disability pay if he's in jail

[Botany]

With the help of online sleuths and boatloads of video and social media evidence, the arrests and charges keep rolling in. But as hearings begin and court dates are set, plea deals are bandied about and defenses and bonds are debated. One group of bigots that was well-represented in Washington, D.C., that fateful day is the so-called Proud Boys. The Proud Boys have enjoyed incredible immunity from law enforcement over the past few years. In recent weeks, many of these bigoted boys have been arrested and each and everyone of them has given a sob story about why they shouldn’t be in jail for breaking all the laws. One particular Kansas Proud Boy, William Chrestman, who was recorded wielding an axe handle and threatening a federal law enforcement officer, is freaking out because he is stuck in jail.

Chrestman, a 43-year-old unemployed union sheet metal worker, was reportedly arrested alongside fellow Kansas residents Louis Enrique Colon and Christopher Kuehne back in February for their part in the insurrection. The charges, according to the Kansas City Star, included “conspiracy, civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.” Chrestman had the distinction of additional charges for carrying the deadly weapon and threatening law enforcement.

snip

But that isn’t all. According to Chrestman’s legal counsel, he has been receiving disability insurance and medical care by way of the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to the Star, Chrestman also has a family and his detention means that his benefits are up in the air. “The residence he shares with his common-law partner … and their six children is in danger of foreclosure, placing the whole nuclear family in jeopardy of homelessness.”

snip

Why Chrestman’s fellow conspirators have been let free on bond remains a mystery. According to the federal affidavit against Chrestman and the men, they acted “in concert to prevent law enforcement officers from controlling the crowd by obstructing metal barriers,” and also “appeared to gesture and communicate to one another both before and while inside the Capitol in an apparent effort to coordinate their efforts.” Oh yeah, and Chrestman wrapped his axe handle in an American flag to allegedly hide it while he was pantomiming peaceful protest.



https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/5/27/2032422/-Proud-Boy-tries-to-downplay-role-in-Jan-6-riots-mourns-loss-of-government-benefits-while-in-jail?detail=emaildkre

[NanceGreggs]

1. So he's not getting the benefits ...

... issued by the government he was trying to overthrow?

That's just all kinds of stupid right there.

[LonePirate]

2. Seems like the criminal is surprised there are punishments for committing crimes.

[William Seger]

23. More likely, he can't believe he's not a revolutionary hero under a restored Trump presidency

[brush]

3. Too bad. A man with all those responsibilities should've thought of that before...

joining in an attempted coup. I feel for his family though.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. This shitbag

is a disgrace to all veterans. Heck, he’s a disgrace to the human race.

If he’s so anti-government, cut off his disability and VA medical care.

[oasis]

5. No worries. One good thing about jail is, you'll get free meals.

[PatSeg]

25. Yup!

Clothing and shelter too, all at the taxpayers expense. Even free healthcare for that disability.

[Wounded Bear]

32. Three hots and a cot...

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Could Have Stayed Home

Then none of this is a problem.
But he didn't, and only now he considers the consequences.
He's too stupid for me to care about him.

[MagickMuffin]

7. Cut him off forever. He doesn't deserve another penny from the US government

William Chrestman be loud and PROUD of your actions, no one to blame but yourself!

Isn't that what your klan is all about?

[Midnight Writer]

8. I know so many people living on Disability, Supplemental Income, Medicaid, Veteran pensions

that have bought into this anti-government, tear the whole thing down bullshit.

There is no talking to them.

I just can't make sense of it.

[Skittles]

13. yup

they carry on about socialism while the taxpayers are footing their bills

[BGBD]

9. Gavin McGinnis

Doppelganger

[bottomofthehill]

10. Too fucking bad

He will be eating ok in jail, the chick he is shacked up with and the 6 kids can eat dog food for all I care. He is a fucking parasite.

[keithbvadu2]

11. Uses the American flag to hide a weapon

[Skittles]

12. so he is disabled, but capable of taking part in an insurrection

I think a benefits review is in order.

[Tanuki]

15. For someone on the brink of financial disaster, he was able to afford his

cosplay gear, transportation halfway across the country and back, and hotel expenses to indulge in his insurrectionist fantasies. I wonder if he had income from working off the books while drawing disability.

[Skittles]

16. sure doesn't sound like he spent it on his family

gawd, what a fucking ASSHOLE

[SeattleVet]

20. That's just the point I was going to make.

If this guy can afford all of the expensive 'tactical' gear he's wearing and carrying, and all of the travel and lodging involved with his little adventure to the insurrection, he can afford to sit it out in a holding cell while waiting for his trial or plea bargain to come up.

[Marrah_Goodman]

14. Too bad, so sad.... thoughts and prayers, etc

He looks like a lovely human being.

[FlyingPiggy]

17. I sure hope he goes to jail. And lose his disability. There needs to be

Consequences for his actions.

[Historic NY]

18. Well he demonstrated he isn't so disabled that he can't engage in strenuous physical

activity wielding an axe handle.

[BlueStater]

19. What an entitled moron.

He tried to overthrow the government yet he still expects them to pay him?

[monkeyman1]

21. this dumb ass officialy shot himself in the foot !!

[Sucha NastyWoman]

22. How come none of these guys appear to be

The strong, independent, self supporting leaders that they claim to admire?

[Takket]

24. he needs a disability review and they need to hit him with fraud/repayment

he can swing an ax at an insurrection but he's disabled? Review his case immediately and make him pay back what he stole if it is not legit.

[Sherman A1]

30. Precisely

I hope that comes to pass.

[Pepsidog]

26. Scum collecting VA disability. Add fraud to the charges. 44 yrs old with 6 kids on disability. What

a lying piece of shit.

[GulfCoast66]

27. Common law partner with six kids!

Dollars to donuts he is getting benefits for them as well as his disability payment. Well, technically the mother of his kids. But he reaps the benefits. And he can attack cops but too disabled hold down a good paying job?

He seems the regular welfare king.

Sarcasm people! Kind of.

[onethatcares]

31. so much easier to

sit around watching fauxsnooze on the 83 inch teevee he bought with winnings from the casino while complaining about the welfare cheats that drive cadillacs and eat steak every night.

[Ferryboat]

28. Sounds like one of them

Takers that the right wingnuts are always whining about.

[Initech]

29. I really don't care. Do U?

[marie999]

33. He may not lose all of his disability benefits from the VA.

Dependants can still get some benefits. The VA will allow dependants to keep most or all of what they get plus CHAMPVA if covered by the VA.