"Appeals court ruling could invalidate sentences for Jan. 6 rioters, impacting other cases"

A federal appeals court has ordered a new sentence for a North Carolina man who pleaded guilty to a petty offense in the Capitol riot, ruling that probation and imprisonment cannot be imposed as a single sentence for a petty offense. The decision could impact dozens of low-level cases in the Jan. 6, 2021 prosecution, potentially invalidating the sentences of over 80 defendants who received a "split sentence" for the same misdemeanor offense. However, the practical effect may be limited as most defendants have likely already served their prison terms. The Justice Department could appeal the decision.