Tyler Bradley Dykes, a far-right extremist who previously served time for his involvement in the Charlottesville rally in 2017, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison for stealing a police shield and using it against officers during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors accused Dykes of giving a Sieg Heil salute during the Capitol attack, which he denied. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell found Dykes’ claim unconvincing, noting his history of extremist behavior.
During the sentencing hearing, Dykes expressed continued support for Donald Trump and extremist ideologies. Prosecutors revealed that Dykes quoted Hitler before the Capitol attack and participated in training for a neo-Nazi group. Dykes was charged in connection with the Capitol attack in July 2023 and pleaded guilty to assaulting officers.
Lt. R.R., an officer who faced Dykes during the attack, spoke of the trauma experienced by officers at the hands of the pro-Trump mob. He described being assaulted with pipes, pepper spray, and more. Lt. R.R. criticized rioters who called for officers to abandon their posts and expressed concern over the fragility of democracy.
In a separate case, Joseph Brody, a member of the far-right group America First, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in the Capitol attack. Brody lifted a barricade inside Nancy Pelosi’s office during the insurrection. Judge Dabney Friedrich expressed concern over Brody’s actions despite his academic achievements and work history. Brody admitted to lacking the courage to go against the crowd during the attack.
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