A former Proud Boys leader was sentenced on Thursday to 17 years in prison over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, one of the highest sentences of the hundreds handed out but far lower than what prosecutors wanted.

Joseph Biggs, a 39-year-old Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was convicted in May along with three co-defendants of seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, among other charges, for his role in leading a group of about 200 to breach the Capitol. A fifth co-defendant was acquitted of the seditious conspiracy charge but convicted of several others.

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U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly focused on Biggs working with others to break down a fence to support applying enhancements to his sentence.

"Tearing down that fence was a discreet act that facilitated the crowd's surge forward" and "was specifically to obstruct the administration of justice,” a guideline used to enhance the prison sentence.

Another enhancement, based on terrorism guidelines, was also applied because of the fence, significantly padding the penalty.

"I really don't think it is a close call," Kelly said of adding the terrorism enhancement.

Biggs's attorney Norm Pattis warned about the repercussions a severe sentence would have on free speech because of the many messages Biggs sent on social media before and after the riot.

When Biggs, who has been in prison for two years, took the stand, he became tearful, saying, "I know that I messed up that day, but I’m not a terrorist ... I didn’t hurt anybody.”

He focused heavily on his daughter, whom he said was his sole priority, and said that while he disagreed with the judge's determinations, he respected "the process" and "the outcome."

The sentence is a blow to prosecutors, who sought 33 years for Biggs, and are seeking decades-long sentences for the other four as well. They sought 25 years for Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes for similar charges. The judge ended up sentencing Rhodes to 18 years, the highest so far.

The sentencing comes after a four-month trial during which a jury was presented with witness testimony, including from Capitol Police, and evidence in the form of video footage, Telegram messages, social media posts, and more.

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In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued that the defendants' "own words leave no doubt.

"They unleashed a force on the Capitol that was calculated to exert their political will on elected officials by force and to undo the results of a democratic election," they wrote. "The foot soldiers of the right aimed to keep their leader in power. They failed. They are not heroes; they are criminals."