In fact, I recently saw a bodycam video in which a Karen was arrested for precisely that. She was already at home, and after a brief interview in which it was clear that she was the one who had thrown a cup of water at the victim, she was cuffed and arrested, all the while expressing outrage, claiming “it was just water”.
I don’t believe that’s how it works. Based on my legal expertise (entirely based on following Ken White aka Popehat on Bluesky and watching the occasional Legal Eagle Youtube video) I believe federal judges are required to follow federal sentencing guidelines, which use a formula taking into account various aggravating and mitigating elements and spit out a pretty narrow range of penalties which in this case I’m guessing will be zero jail time.