Aiden Henry Bilyard, Assaulting Officers, Washington District of Columbia 2021

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North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, Aiden Henry Bilyard, 20, of Cary, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon – chemical spray – during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 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.

Bilyard pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. He faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and potential financial penalties.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2:35 p.m., Bilyard was among a crowd of rioters illegally gathered in the Upper West Plaza of the Capitol grounds. He carried a gold-colored canister of “home defense pepper gel.” Bilyard pointed the nozzle of the canister at officers who were attempting to prevent the mob from proceeding further towards the Capitol Building. He then discharged the chemical irritant towards the group of officers.

Bilyard also went to the Lower West Terrace. At approximately 4:10 p.m., he was in a group of rioters massed in front of a glass window to the Capitol Building. While there, he encouraged an individual who was striking the window with what appeared to be a small axe. Bilyard was handed a bat, which he used to shatter the lower glass portion of the window. He then turned to face the crowd and clapped and shouted in an act of encouragement for people to start entering the building. Bilyard also entered the Capitol by crawling through the window that he had shattered.

Bilyard was arrested on Nov. 22, 2021. He is to be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

More than 880 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol in the 21 months since Jan. 6, 2021. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.