Richland Springs High School graduate and stand-out six-man football athlete, Tyler Ethridge was arrested on Friday, July 8 and charged for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Ethridge, 33, faces a felony charge of civil disorder, as well as five misdemeanor charges.

According to a DOJ statement, “On Jan. 6, Ethridge was among rioters illegally on the Capitol grounds. He helped remove fencing erected on the northwest approach to the Capitol. He proceeded with the crowd past the barricades to the West Plaza outside the Capitol Building. As law enforcement officers attempted to clear the crowd, Ethridge climbed a media scaffolding and exhorted the crowd to keep fighting.”

DOJ officials noted that Ethridge continued to speak proudly of the attack on social media for months after, saying in a post the following September, “Don’t be afraid of what they sentence you with. I’m not. I’m ready for whatever I’ll be charged with. America is still primed and ready.”

Ethridge posted the following on Facebook the evening of Friday, July 8: “When I was shackled in chains from my hands to my feet today, pacing around in that narrow jail cell, I did have thoughts of ‘was it worth it?’ I know that’s everyone’s question to me. ‘Was it worth it, Ty?’ Indeed it has been and will continue to be. Even if I’m thrown in prison for 20 years. I stood against a stolen election. I still believe it was.”

Ethridge entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and filmed himself and others on videos posted to the social media site, Parler. 

In the video he shot from inside the Capitol, Ethridge states, “I don’t want to say that what we’re doing is right. But if the election is being stolen, what is it going to take?…I’m probably going to lose my job as a pastor for this.” 

Christ-Centered Church of Tampa, a congregation in Dover, Florida announced on Jan. 19, 2021 that Ethridge no longer worked there.

Ethridge currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.