A Colorado Springs man was sentenced to seven months in prison after committing felonies and misdemeanors at the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Tyler Earl Ethridge, 35, was sentenced Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. He was convicted of two felonies — obstructing an official proceeding and civil disorder — on Sept. 8.
His misdemeanors include “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 a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Ethridge also owes $2,000 in restitution, and he must serve 24 months of supervised release.
Ethridge, a former pastor who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on July 8, 2022, counts as one of more than 1,500 people charged after the Capitol riot.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Ethridge participated in former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., before going to the U.S. Capitol, the news release reports. It details that he was responsible for helping to dismantle the fencing of a closed area and encouraging others to clash with police from his elevated position on a scaffolding. He later resisted police himself.
Ethridge spent about a half hour in the Capitol building, according to the news release.
An X social media account under Ethridge’s name has documented his participation in the insurrection and his related court proceedings.
“I hope this doesn’t get me thrown in jail,” Ethridge said in a video shared in March. “I’m officially a pastor. This is what pastors need to do.”
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