Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 34
- Location
- Shelby County, Tennessee
- Charges
- Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers (2 counts); Civil Disorder; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Ronald "Ronnie" Sandlin had planned to attend the pro-Trump rally in Washington, D.C., for at least a week, federal prosecutors say. In late December, he allegedly posted on Facebook, "I’m going to be there to show support for our president and to do my part to stop the steal and stand behind Trump when he decides to cross the rubicon." As the hours ticked down toward the attack on the Capitol, his rhetoric turned increasingly violent, the court records indicate. “Freedom is paid for with blood," Sandlin said several times on video, according to federal prosecutors. "I think it is time to take the Capitol and I don’t say that lightly." Sandlin allegedly entered the Capitol building during the riot and was seen on video smoking inside the Capitol, saying: "We made history guys. People are smoking weed in here." Prosecutors also allege that "Sandlin assaulted police officers on two separate occasions in two different locations in the Capitol that day." In one incident, "he attempted to rip an officer’s helmet off as the officer tried to hold back the mob trying to rush into the Capitol through one of its entrances," according to court documents. He also allegedly, "engaged in a shoving match with an officer attempting to lock and secure a set of doors inside the Capitol." Sandlin was arrested in Nevada on Jan. 28, 2021. "The defendant was a spoke in the wheel that caused the historic events of January 6, 2021, and he is thus a danger to our society and a threat to the peaceful functioning of our community," prosecutors wrote.
Case History
Sandlin pleaded Guilty to two charges: Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding; and Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 12/9/2022 to 63 months of incarceration; 36 months of supervised release; $2,000 in restitution; $200 special assessment: $20,000 fine. Sandlin 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 - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.