WASHINGTON — A federal judge convicted a Marine Corps veteran of multiple felony counts Tuesday for carrying a tomahawk to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Alex Harkrider, of Carthage, Texas, was found guilty of seven counts by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth following a brief stipulated bench trial. In a stipulated bench trial, both the defense and prosecution agree on a set of facts to submit to the judge, who then determines if they are sufficient for a guilty verdict. Harkrider was found guilty of multiple felonies, including obstruction of an official proceeding and entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon.
Harkrider was indicted in early 2021 alongside his friend and fellow Marine, Ryan Nichols, of Longview, Texas. Nichols, who carried a crowbar to the Capitol and assaulted police with pepper spray, pleaded guilty in November to two felony counts and was set to be sentenced in March. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Nichols faces an estimated sentencing guideline range of 78-97 months in prison.
Harkrider’s attorney, Kira Anne West, said her client had no understanding of what was happening at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and only went to D.C. because Nichols asked him to. While Nichols can be heard on videos played in court repeatedly threatening violence as he marched to the Capitol that day – at one point describing the day as the second revolution and threatening to “drag motherf***ers through the streets” – West said Harkrider never advocated for violence or joined in on what she described as Nichols’ “extremely offensive” rants.
“Alex is the follower,” West side. “Ryan is the leader.”
On rebuttal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Brasher played a brief clip of Harkrider leaning out a broken window from a congressional office inside the Capitol while he drew his finger across his throat.
After leaving the Marines, Harkrider assisted in a search-and-rescue non-profit Nichols founded. While Nichols was held in pre-trial detention for most of the period between his arrest and plea, Harkrider was granted release and West secured permission for him on several occasions to assist in disaster relief. In September 2022, another judge allowed Harkrider to travel to Florida for two weeks to help following Hurricane Ian. Harkrider was also granted permission to travel to Kentucky to provide relief following a devastating tornado outbreak in the western part of the state and to Louisiana, where he volunteered three times in response to Hurricane Ida.
On Tuesday, Lamberth allowed Harkrider to remain on release under his existing conditions. Harkrider was scheduled for sentencing on May 9.