Aiden Bilyard
Aiden Henry Bilyard was born on January 31, 2002 to Amy Bilyard, a single mom in Cary North Carolina. He never met his father. In 2019, he began computer science studies at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. Bright from an early age, Aiden graduated in 2020 with an associate’s degree in computer science. In 2021, he joined the United States Air Force and began basic training at Lackland Air Force Base outside San Antonio, Texas. Aiden had a promising future ahead of him.
Although only 18, Aiden followed his heart and went to Washington D.C. to protest the election results. Aiden believed the election had too many question marks not to be paused and discussed by the Senate. He didn’t plan on any violence and like all the protestors, he did not bring a weapon to D.C. He wholeheartedly believed that the election results were rigged, and on January 6th, met up with like-minded individuals to exercise his Constitutional right to protest. The presence of law enforcement and counter-protesters made the situation tense to him.
Chaos broke out as police threw tear gas, injuring the protesters. People began pushing and shoving others, causing the police to spray bear spray and start beating some of the protesters. Scared for his safety, Aiden sprayed back in an attempt to protect himself and his fellow protestors. He used a baseball bat to break a window and enter the capitol. He found the scene disturbing and left to return to his hotel and then return to Lackland Air Force base.
On August 4th, 2021, he was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) at the base. After that interview, he left the Air Force and returned to his home in Cary. Air Force officials refused to comment on the details surrounding his separation.
Aiden was arrested in November of 2021 and was just 19. Residents of his hometown were shocked to hear the teenager had been arrested. Neighbor Michelle Hopkins was interviewed by Raleigh’s CBS 17 news and said “It’s just surprising. I don’t even know what to say. He always seemed like a good kid. Quiet.” He wasn’t indicted until January 26, 2022 (more than one year after the incident in question). Thankfully, Aiden was released after making his first appearance.
The FBI’s Charlotte Field Office investigated the crime; they were assisted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department.
Court documents suggest that on January 6, 2021, at approximately 2:35 pm, Aiden was with a group of protesters in the Upper West Plaza on the grounds of the Capitol Building. During an interaction with police, he was said to have discharged the chemical spray at officers. At approximately 4:10 pm, Aiden was said to have smashed a window with a baseball bat allowing himself and other protestors entry into the building.
Aiden was charged with nine crimes, five of which were felonies. Aiden retained Jamie Vavonese as his personal attorney.
At his bench trial on October 20, 2022, Aiden pled guilty to the charge of Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon (chemical spray). All other charges were dismissed. As part of the plea agreement, he had to admit he assaulted police officers with chemical spray and that he broke out a window of the Capitol building.
The judge called his actions ‘outrageous” and refused to make an exception that would allow him to be released from custody until his sentencing. Aiden was allowed to speak to the judge, and through his tears, apologized to the officers and his mother. He said he regretted making “the most foolish decisions of my life”. “My promise to the court is that I will never make these mistakes again. Know that there is a real person with remorse behind these words. Please have mercy.” The judge did not grant Aiden any mercy.
The judge denied the request that Aiden be allowed to serve time under house arrest instead of prison. He did, however, agree to recommend that Aiden be allowed to serve time in a North Carolina prison so he would be closer to his mom.
He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton on March 17, 2023, and was ordered to serve forty months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a ‘special assessment’ of $100 as well as restitution in the amount of $3,500. His mother Amy was present at the sentencing; upon hearing the judgment, she became emotional and yelled “This isn’t right” to the judge. The judge was sympathetic to her position, telling her “I know you’re upset. Unfortunately, your son did what he did. And as my mother always told me, ‘you make your bed, you have to lie in it’”. Amy Bilyard was ultimately removed from the courtroom.
Aiden was 21 at the time of his sentencing and was the 2nd youngest person arrested for the events of January 6th. He is set to be released on August 21, 2025. At the time of his sentencing, he was the eighth North Carolina resident to be sentenced to prison, and only one (James Philip Mault from Fort Bragg) received a longer sentence than Aiden.
Aiden has spent his early adult years incarcerated and will be in his mid-20s when he completes his supervised release.
Aiden can use all the support he can get. If you want to write to him, he can receive mail addressed to:
Aiden Bilyard
#75409-509
FCI Allendwood Low
Federal Correctional Institution PO Box 1000 White Deer, PA 17887
Please note: Prisoner mail is reviewed by guards. Please keep messages of encouragement to a general and/or religious nature. For example, do not mention the events of Jan. 6th or other current events under criminal investigation.
