A Bedford man has been charged for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
William Lance Wilkerson was arrested a week ago in Mitchell after he was identified in part due to the sale of metal to a scrapyard.
According to unsealed charging documents, Wilkerson was spotted in surveillance footage entering the Capitol through the Senate Wing doors at approximately 3:24 p.m. He then made his way to the Crypt before leaving the building five minutes later.
Although Wilkerson was visible in a video stream of the riot, it was surveillance footage from a scrapyard in Bloomington that resulted in his arrest.
Under state law, valuable metal dealers must verify a driver’s license when receiving scrap metals. Charging documents indicate Wilkerson visited JB Salvage Inc. at least four times, including once in December when he wore the same green jacket he was seen wearing at the Capitol.
Other evidence found by the FBI include Wilkerson’s Facebook page, on which he posted several photos in Washington, D.C. on Jan 6. One of them was a selfie at the Washington Monument with the caption, “I made it here showing my colors.” In another post on Jan. 7, he wrote, “Real patriots did infiltrate the capitol. I watched it happen. The media is all lies unless they were there.”
Wilkerson has been charged on four counts: knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in any of the Capitol buildings.
As of Friday, Wilkerson’s initial appearance in court has not been set.
Read more: Indiana man enters into plea agreement for his involvement in Jan. 6 insurrection
