BEDFORD – On Monday, a Bedford man was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay $510 in restitution and fees for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
William Lance Wilkerson, 39 was arrested on Thursday, June 8, 2023, when federal agents went to a home at 2nd and Kelly Streets in Mitchell.
He was initially charged with four counts of unlawful entering the US Capitol, but three were dropped in the plea agreement. Wilkerson agreed to 30 days incarceration in that deal, but on Monday that was reduced to two years of probation.
Federal agents were able to identify Wilkerson after he sold scrap metal at a Bloomington scrapyard.
Under Indiana law, valuable metal dealers must verify a driver’s license when receiving scrap metals. According to charging documents, Wilkerson visited JB Salvage Inc. at least four times – including at least one time in December 2020 in which he wore the same green jacket he was wearing on Jan. 6. Wilkerson was then positively identified to the FBI by an acquaintance.
According to charging documents unsealed in federal court in D.C., Wilkerson can be seen in surveillance footage entering the building through the Senate Wing doors at approximately 3:24 p.m.
Investigators say Wilkerson then made his way to the Crypt before leaving the building approximately five minutes later. While inside, Wilkerson was captured both on surveillance video and a live video that was broadcast by right-wing streamer Tim “Baked Alaska” Gionet. That video was used by authorities to identify numerous riot participants.
Gionet was sentenced in January to 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Wilkerson also posted on Facebook photos of himself at the Capitol on Jan. 6 along with comments indicating his presence.
