Ryan Nichols, left, and Alex Harkrider are seen Jan. 6, 2021, outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The two men were charged in connection with the Capitol riot.

An East Texas man has waived his right to a jury trial in connection with federal charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Instead, Alex Harkrider, of Carthage, will let Judge Royce C. Lamberth in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia decide the case after a bench trial set to start Jan 2.

Harkrider’s co-defendant in the case and fellow former Marine, Ryan Taylor Nichols of Longview, previously pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting and then assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers.

Nichols’ sentencing hearing has been set for March 15.

Harkrider faces charges of civil disorder and aiding and abetting; 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; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstration or picketing in a Capitol building.

U.S. attorneys argue in court documents that Harkrider traveled to Washington, D.C., as “part of a pre-planned, coordinated act, in which he and his co-defendant, Ryan Nichols, prepared for violence, transported and carried weapons, and discussed going to the Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

In a request for pretrial release filed in April 2021, Harkrider’s attorney claimed that he “did not engage in prior planning.” However, text messages between Harkrider and Nichols released by the government in court documents show the pair expressed excitement for the possibly of participating in an “actual battle” on Jan. 6.

In addition, Harkrider and Nichols posted images and videos of themselves involved in the Jan. 6 riots to their social media accounts. Investigators found photos, screenshots and videos from the pair depicting them taking part in the riot, according to court documents.