United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida
09/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2024 14:30
Colorado Man Sentenced to Prison on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
WASHINGTON- A Colorado man was sentenced to prison today after he was convicted of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Tyler Earl Ethridge, 35, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to seven months in prison, 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras.
Judge Contreras convicted Ethridge of obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, both felony offenses, on Sept. 8, 2023. In addition to the felonies, Ethridge was convicted of several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Judge Contreras sentenced Ethridge on a felony offense of civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Ethridge traveled from his home in Colorado to Washington, D.C., and on Jan. 6, 2021, attend the former President's "Stop the Steal" rally on the National Mall. Ethridge left during the rally and made his way toward the Capitol building. At approximately 12:55 p.m., while on restricted Capitol grounds near the Peace Circle, Ethridge and the crowd encountered a line of bike rack barricades, fencing, and police officers preventing their advance. Court documents say that the crowd-including Ethridge-surged forward, destroying the barricades, overwhelming police, and knocking an officer to the ground. Ethridge also helped remove the bicycle rack fencing erected on the northwest approach to the Capitol, which bore a large sign declaring "Area Closed."
Ethridge proceeded with the crowd past the barricades to the West Plaza outside of the Capitol. There, while people in Ethridge's earshot chanted "Stop the steal! Stop the steal!", Ethridge was pepper-sprayed and shot with rubber bullets by police officers attempting to control and disperse the crowd. Ethridge was not deterred. He then climbed a media scaffolding and exhorted the crowd to continue fighting the police.
At approximately 2:35 p.m., Ethridge entered the Capitol building via the Upper West Terrace Door. From there, Ethridge proceeded to the Rotunda. As he walked to and then up the stairs leading to the Rotunda, Ethridge recorded video on his cell phone. In that video, loud alarms are blaring as Ethridge urges another protestor to "cover your face." Ethridge stayed in the Rotunda for approximately three minutes. While in the Rotunda, police officers attempting to control and disperse the crowd deployed more pepper spray, and again Ethridge suffered its effects. Rather than exit the Capitol, however, Ethridge remained and filmed several videos that he posted to social media.
In one such video, Ethridge stated:
"We stormed the Capitol. [. . .] This is amazing. I hope this doesn't get me thrown in jail. I'm officially a pastor. This is what pastors need to do. […] Christians, we need to infiltrate every area of society like this. Every area of society like this. Peacefully. But if it takes a little bit of aggression to barge through the walls that Satan separates us from the culture, it's time for the body of Christ to infiltrate the culture."
Minutes after leaving the Rotunda, Ethridge joined a crowd of rioters in the hallway between the Rotunda and the Senate Chamber. There, Ethridge and the other rioters forcibly resisted police efforts to clear the area, by bracing his body and attempting to physically resist the officers' efforts to move him out of the hallway. After this physical conflict with law enforcement officers, Ethridge returned to the Rotunda, where he stayed for approximately 10 minutes. Ethridge then exited the Capitol building, having spent approximately 30 minutes inside the building.
In the aftermath of Jan. 6, Ethridge remained active on social media. In one post, dated Sept. 24, 2021, he wrote, "Don't be afraid of what they sentence you with. I'm not. I'm ready for whatever I'll be charged with. America is still primed and ready."
The FBI arrested Ethridge on July 8, 2022, in Colorado.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
This case was investigated by the FBI's Denver Field Office and its Colorado Springs Resident Agency, and the FBI's Dallas Field Office and its Abilene Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI's Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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