Bluffton, South Carolina – A Marine involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol has received a nearly five-year prison sentence for his actions during the insurrection. Tyler Bradley Dykes, 26, played a key role in the chaos that unfolded that day, grabbing a riot shield from Capitol police officers and using it to obstruct and intimidate law enforcement.
While serving in the Marines at the time, Dykes pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell handed down a sentence of four years and nine months in prison, along with a $22,000 fine and restitution. Despite Dykes’ remorse in a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors highlighted his previous involvement in violent events, including a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017.
Dykes was captured in a viral image making a Nazi salute at the Capitol, underscoring the ideological violence he has embraced in the past. He attended a rally held by former President Donald Trump before heading to the Capitol, where he was part of a violent mob that clashed with law enforcement officers trying to protect the building.
In their sentencing recommendation, prosecutors emphasized Dykes’ aggressive actions during the riot, including using a stolen riot shield to push through police lines and force officers to retreat. Although no injuries were directly attributed to him, Dykes was deemed a significant participant in the violent mob that left many officers seriously injured that day.
Following his arrest in Virginia, it was revealed that Dykes had briefly attended Cornell University before joining the Marines, where he was discharged in 2023 for engaging in extremist behavior. Prosecutors noted that Dykes had strayed from his oath to defend the Constitution by participating in criminal activities during the Capitol riot.
The case of Tyler Bradley Dykes is just one of over 1,400 individuals facing charges related to the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, highlighting the widespread impact of that fateful day in American history.
