Tyler Dykes, a former marine with ties to white supremacist groups, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for his violent actions during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell described his case as one of the most egregious among Jan. 6 defendants.
Content: WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyler Dykes, a former marine from South Carolina with a history of white supremacist ties, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on Friday for his violent participation in the January 6 Capitol attack. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell also imposed a $20,000 fine on Dykes, citing his case as one of the most severe among those involved in the insurrection.
“We fought a world war to beat back the Nazis,” Judge Howell remarked during the sentencing. “The defendant thinks there’s something attractive about Nazi ideology.”
Dykes, who previously attended the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was seen giving a Nazi salute atop the Capitol steps on January 6. His actions on the day included ripping down fencing that allowed the mob to advance, stealing a riot shield from a police officer, and leading a push against the police line outside the Senate chamber.
The prosecution presented Dykes as a key example of the extremists present during the Capitol riot. The mob included individuals motivated by various ideologies, from those believing in Donald Trump’s stolen election claims to QAnon followers and racially motivated extremists.
Two officers who faced Dykes on January 6 were present in the courtroom. One officer, identified as R.R., recalled the fear and violence of that day, mentioning the crowd’s chants to “hang Mike Pence” and “kill Nancy Pelosi.” “We felt helpless, … we were fighting for our democracy,” he said.
Dykes’ defense argued that his youth at the time—23 years old—should be a mitigating factor. However, Judge Howell emphasized that Dykes’ actions were deliberate and premeditated, noting his history of violent extremism and preparation for violence even after January 6, as evidenced by explosive-making instructions found on his phone.
In court, Dykes expressed remorse, asking for mercy and claiming to have renounced extremist beliefs. However, he reiterated his support for Donald Trump, stating, “I stand with President Trump and support him to be the next president of our country.”
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