Jacob Gavin Hiles

Case Summary

On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors allege, Jacob Hiles posted a picture of himself on Facebook in sunglasses, a camouflage MAGA hat and a "F*** Antifa" sweatshirt with the caption, "Feelin cute … might start a revolution later, IDK." Later that day, he allegedly joined the mob that stormed the Capitol building and posted, "After being tear gassed for an hour, we entered the capitol, thousands of us." He added that he saw the police shoot a woman, later identified as Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, and wrote, "I watched the American government attack it's [sic] own people today." Hiles said he did not witness any property damage or violence, allegedly posting, “While under the rotunda, I never saw anyone touch or vandalize anything and I distinctly heard several people saying ‘look but don’t touch.’ ” Hiles is a charter boat captain with Matador Sportfishing in Virginia Beach, Va., according to the company's website. He was arrested on Jan. 19, 2021, in Norfolk, Va.

Case History

Hiles pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges were dismissed. Sentenced 12/6/2021 to 24 months of probation; 60 hours community service; Special Assessment of $10; and Restitution in the amount of $500. Hiles 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.