WASHINGTON — An Alabama man has been federally sentenced for his involvement as part of the first group to breach the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

The attack was the result of an attempt to disrupt a joint session of the U.S. Congress to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election won by President Joe Biden. Former President Donald Trump that day held a rally nearby preceding the attack encouraging attendees to march toward the Capitol.

According to the District of Columbia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, William Watson, 25, of Auburn, was sentenced March 9, to 36 months in prison for obstruction of an official proceeding and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Watson to 36 months of supervised release.

During his November trial, evidence revealed that Watson joined the mob of rioters illegally on the West Plaza area of Capitol grounds. He carried a knife with him on his waistband, which he used to tear down cloth around the inauguration scaffolding so that the crowd could move further up the steps toward the Capitol Building, according the Attorney’s Office.

Just after 2 p.m., the police line was overrun by rioters and Watson also allegedly obtained a canister of pepper spray while at the Capitol, which he pointed threateningly at officers, court documents stated.

Prosecutors say Watson helped smash a window adjacent to the Senate Wing Door before crawling through it at 2:13 p.m., and eventually neared the Senate Chambers, where he and other rioters confronted several officers.

Shortly after the events of Jan. 6, Watson prosecutors say Watson created a Snapchat story with a photo of himself and others in the Ohio Clock Corridor. Among other things, the caption stated, “The fake news won’t win against the thousands of patriots recorded today.”

In the 26 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 999 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Watson is among more than 15 arrested in Alabama, including a Leeds man, Joshua Matthew Black, who was shot in the face during while during the riot in the Capitol.

Black’s eight-count indictment states that he was carrying a knife during the riot inside the restricted building “with intent to impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business and official functions.”

Two days after the attack, Black — who had been identified from video surveillance inside Senate chambers — posted a YouTube video detailing his experience inside the Capitol. He also described the he suffered a wound on his left cheek when he was shot with a projectile during the riot.

The list of persons charged in federal court in the District of Columbia related to crimes committed at Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-dc/capitol-breach-cases.

Anyone with tips can call 800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.