Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 54
- Location
- Des Moines, Iowa
- 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
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Federal prosecutors allege that Deborah Sandoval stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, along with her son, Salvador Sandoval Jr. The case against both Sandovals relies on evidence gathered from their social media accounts, which FBI investigators say they then corroborated with surveillance footage from inside the Capitol. Prior to the riot, Deborah Sandoval allegedly messaged a witness that she was headed to Washington, D.C., because "This is history in the making Saving America.” Later, prosecutors say, she messaged that witness a video from inside the Capitol crypt.
Case History
Sandoval pleaded Guilty to one charge: Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 5/1/2023 to 5 Months incarceration; 12 Months of Supervised Release; Special Assessment of $25; restitution of $500. Sandoval received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.