Capitol riot 'commander' Ayla Wolf escapes 11-month prison term

Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·2 min read
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A prosecution filing alleges to show Stephanie Hazelton of Medford during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Medford woman has been ordered to spend 10 days in prison as part of her penalty for taking part in the U.S. Capitol riot.

Stephanie Hazelton, 51, also received 90 days of home detention and two years of supervised release under a sentence from a federal judge on June 1.

A federal prosecutor had requested an 11-month prison term for Hazelton, comparing her to a “commander on the battlefield” during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

More: Sentencing set for July 25 Marlton man admits role in U.S. Capitol riot

A court filing said Hazelton, also known as Ayla Wolf, had urged rioters to break through police lines at the Capitol, calling for “more men” and “more helmets.”

Hazelton attorney sought lighter sentence

Hazelton’s defense attorney had argued against imprisonment for her “words of encouragement.”

The lawyer, Nicholas D. Smith of New York City, said Hazelton’s sentence should be on no more than three months of home detention and two years on probation.

In a sentencing memorandum, Smith asserted Hazelton “deeply regrets her conduct and apologizes to the law enforcement officers who struggled in that chaotic scene."

He said Hazelton, whose husband travels for his job in sales, devotes “virtually all of her time” to two home-schooled sons, ages 11 and 12, with special needs.

The two sides split over the impact of Hazelton's actions at the riot.

A prosecution sentencing memorandum said Hazelton's role “contributed to the massive number of rioters who pushed against and assaulted … officers for nearly two hours ."

Hazelton's attorney argued nothing connected Hazelton's words to a specific assault on an officer.

Smith said Hazelton, who left the melee with a broken finger, never entered the Capitol itself, had no physical contact with officers and did not destroy any property. U.S. District Judge John Bates did not fine Hazelton, but ordered her to pay restitution of $2,000 and a special assessment of $100.The prosecution had requested a $10,000 fine, while Hazelton’s lawyer had said "a significant fine would be sufficient."

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Stephanie Hazelton of Medford called for 'more men' at Capitol riot