One year later: Alabamians arrested in connection with the U.S. Capitol insurrection

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Thursday marks one year since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington D.C. for “Stop the Steal” rallies to protest the results of the 2020 Presidential Election.

Later that day, rioters stormed the capitol building causing at least $1.5 million worth of damage, according to the Architect of the Capitol.

Since then, the U.S. Department of Justice has arrested more than 725 people in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Almost a dozen of those individuals are from Alabama. Here’s what we know about them one year later.

Russell Dean Alford

Charges:

• Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds without Lawful Authority
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
• Parading, Demonstrating or Picketing in a Capitol Building

Alford, a business owner of a paint and body shop in Hokes Bluff, was arrested on March 29, 2021, in Birmingham. During the insurrection, he took multiple videos from inside the U.S. Capitol and posted them on his Youtube channel.

He told investigators he had wanted to attend a Trump rally “for quite some time,” and thought this could be his last opportunity to do so. Alford said he and a friend drove to D.C. to attend the Trump rally near the White House.

He said that at the end of the rally, he started walking with the crowd toward the U.S. Capitol where he entered the building through a door that was already broken open. Alford said he didn’t see who in the front of the crowd had opened the door, according to court documents.

Alford made an initial appearance in April where he pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Phillip Andrew Bromley

Charges:

• Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
• Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building

Bromley was arrested on Feb. 17, 2021, in Birmingham. Investigators identified him in a video shared by ProPublica. Bromley recounts what happened inside the Capitol building leading up to the shooting of 35-year-old Ashli E. Babbitt.

A special agent with the FBI testified in an affidavit that through the video Bromley admitted to unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol.

Bromley initially pleaded not guilty to all counts but later entered a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to at least one count. His sentencing is set for March 2, 2022.

Lonnie Coffman

Charges:

• Possession of an unregistered firearm
• Carrying a pistol without a license

Coffman, 70, of Falkville, was arrested on Jan. 7, 2021. He had several loaded firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, a crossbow with bolts, machetes, camouflage smoke devices, a stun gun, and a cooler containing 11 mason jars filled with ignitable ingredients for Molotov cocktail incendiary weapons in his car, according to court records.

In an interview with authorities, Coffman admitted to carrying a loaded handgun and a loaded revolver without a license. A special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police told the judge that Coffman hadn’t registered any firearm or destructive device with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, which is required by law.

Coffman pleaded not guilty to all counts but later entered a plea agreement. His sentencing is set for April 1, 2022, and faces up to 15 years in prison.

Mark Grods

Charges:

• Conspiracy
• Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
• Aiding and Abetting

Grods, 54, of Mobile, was arrested on June 30, 2021. The Acting United States Attorney’s Office said Grods “agreed to plan and participate in an operation to interfere with the certification of the electoral college vote on Jan. 6.” He allegedly used websites and social media to recruit other participants.

Grods worked with others to stand in a military “stack” formation with hands on the shoulders of those in front of them to move toward the Capitol building, court records indicate.

He entered the East Rotunda door carrying a large stick but exited within minutes after law enforcement officers deployed pepper balls near him. Grods pleaded guilty to at least two counts.

Dillon Colby Herrington

Charges:

• Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Knowingly Engaging in any act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in a Restricted Building
• Willfully and Knowingly Engage in an act of Physical Violence in the Grounds of the Capitol Building
• Commit or Attempt any act to Obstruct, Impede or Interfere with Law Enforcement in Performance of his Official Duties
• Forcible Assault, Resist, Oppose, Impede, Intimidate, or Interfere with Law Enforcement

Herrington, 29, of Madison, was arrested on Sept. 17, 2021. He was seen on surveillance footage attempting to strike law enforcement with objects, according to court records. Investigators believe no law enforcement was struck.

In an affidavit, an FBI special agent said they believe Herrington did not enter the Capitol building but that he was on the complex grounds, which can be illegal if you’re not authorized.

Kari Dawn Kelly/Kelley

Charges:

• Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds
• Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building

Kelley, of Mobile, was arrested on Feb. 26, 2021. She was seen on video entering the Capitol through a window, according to court records.

Kelley pleaded not guilty to all counts, but a plea hearing was scheduled.

Christian Matthew Manley

Charges:

• Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers
• Civil Disorder
• Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings

Manley, 26, of Birmingham, was arrested on Oct. 15, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. The FBI reported in court records that Manley can be seen on video footage spraying pepper spray at officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department. Authorities said he also threw a metal rod at officers.

Gregory Lamar Nix

Charges:

• Civil Disorder
• Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers using a Dangerous Weapon and Inflicting Bodily Injury on Certain Officers
• Destruction of Government Property
• Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
• Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings

Nix, 52, of Cleveland, was arrested on Dec. 28, 2021. He was seen on video footage banging the end of a white flagpole against the East House Doors, attempting to breach the U.S. Capitol building, according to court documents.

Authorities said that Nix also physically assaulted a U.S. Capitol police officer by striking him with the flagpole and then throwing the object at him. An FBI special agent said they believe Nix did enter the Capitol building.

Joshua James

Charges:

• Conspiracy
• Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
• Aiding and Abetting Restricted Building or Grounds

James, 33, of Arab, was arrested on March 9, 2021. He arrived at the Capitol equipped with military-style attire and gear, including apparel emblazoned with a patch related to the Oath Keepers Militia, according to an affidavit by an FBI special agent.

Authorities said James communicated with others in advance of the attack about serving as security detail for the “Stop the Steal” rallies, which were held before the insurrection took place. He also “forcibly entered” the Capitol building through the east side Rotunda doors, according to the FBI.

James has a jury trial set for Jan. 31 and April 4, 2022. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Jonathan Walden

Charges:

• Conspiracy
• Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
• Destruction of Government Property and Aiding and Abetting

Walden, 46, of Birmingham, was arrested on June 3, 2021, in Verbena, Ala. Authorities said Walden sent a message to a co-defendant expressing interest in joining the “quick reaction force team.”

Walden is said to have “aggressively berated and taunted law enforcement officers in riot gear guarding the perimeter of the building.” He has a jury trial set for Jan. 31 and April 19, 2022.

William Wright Watson

Charges:

• Civil Disorders
• Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Violent Entry or Disorderly Conduct

Watson was arrested on May 4, 2021, in Lee County. Court documents allege Watson left Auburn on Jan. 5 and drove through the night to D.C. He was first taken into custody after violating his bond conditions from a drug case in Alabama.

“To support the patriots, support Trump, support freedom,” he said in an interview with the Justice Department. “I guess the overriding thing for why we were there that day is because they were certifying the fraudulent election that day, and so we, to protest that.”

Watson said he followed a crowd up to the Capitol past police barriers and when someone broke a window he followed them in. He admitted to carrying a bottle of mace and a knife.

Watson said when the group entered a hallway, they ran into police. He said he worked with a law enforcement officer for approximately 30 minutes to get people to calm down.

A U.S. Capitol police officer said Watson was “quiet and reserved and helped them try to calm the crowd,” according to court documents.

Others arrested in Alabama

Stephanie Baez

Charges:

• Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
• Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds

Baez was arrested on June 4, 2021, in Huntsville. She pleaded not guilty to all counts in August.

Joshua Matthew Black

Charges:

• Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
• Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
• Impeding Ingress and Egress in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting
• Unlawful Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on Capitol Grounds or Buildings
• Entering and Remaining on the Floor of Congress
• Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
• Impeding Passage Through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings and Aiding and Abetting

Black was arrested in the Northern District of Alabama on Jan. 14, 2021. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Brian Glenn Bingham

Charges:

• Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding certain Officers or Employees of the United States in Performance of Official Duties
• Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder
• Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct on Capitol Grounds
• Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds
• Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building

Bingham was arrested on June 22, 2021, in Montgomery.

Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas

Charges:

• Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers or Employees
• Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder
• Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
• Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or on Restricted Grounds
• Engaging in Physical Violence in Restricted Building or on Restricted Grounds
• Engage in Physical Violence on Capitol Grounds

Thomas, 38, of East Liverpool, Ohio, was arrested on May 26, 2021, in Birmingham.