Millington man pleads guilty in relation to January 6 Capitol riot

Lucas Finton, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
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Screen grabs from surveillance video footage covering a hallway in the U.S. Capitol Senate Gallery allegedly shows Ronald Sandlin inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Screen grabs from surveillance video footage covering a hallway in the U.S. Capitol Senate Gallery allegedly shows Ronald Sandlin inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A Millington man is scheduled for sentencing in December after entering guilty pleas in relation to the Capitol riot in Washington, D.C. on January 6.

Ronald Sandlin, 35, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to interfere with the peaceful transition of power and assaulting law enforcement officers. According to court documents, Sandlin posted to Facebook about his intent to caravan to Washington D.C. in late December and was seeking donations.

He is also alleged to have worked alongside two other men, Nathaniel DeGrave and Josiah Colt, and the three discussed shipping guns to Sandlin's home in Tennessee. Two days before the attack, Sandlin posted a picture of Colt holding a gun in bed to Facebook.

Sandlin watched the "Stop the Steal" rally at a restaurant near the Ellipse, before live-streaming a call-to-arms.

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"Sandlin live-streamed a video in which he called on 'other patriots' to 'take the Capitol,'" a press release from the Department of Justice said. "In the video, Sandlin stated four times that 'freedom is paid for with blood.'"

According to the press release, the three men then went to the Capitol together, wearing face masks, helmets, and shin guards. Sandlin was alleged to be carrying a knife and DeGrave was alleged to be carrying bear spray. After climbing dismantled barricades, they entered through the upper west terrace door.

"While inside, Sandlin and DeGrave pushed against officers guarding an exterior door to the Capitol Rotunda, slowly forcing the door open and letting a mob stream inside. Sandlin shouted at the officers, 'You're going to die, get out of the way,' before later grabbing an officer's helmet," the press release said.

While in the Capitol, Sandlin stole a book from the desk of a Senate-side office, picked up an oil painting, and smoked weed in the Capitol Rotunda. The painting was eventually taken off his shoulder by other rioters.

The DOJ said Sandlin left the Capitol at about 3:16 p.m., about an hour after he and his partners entered.

Colt entered a guilty plea July 14, 2021, and DeGrave entered a guilty plea June 27, 2022. Sandlin was arrested January 28, 2021, and is slated to be sentenced on December 9 in Washington, D.C. He could face up to 28 years in prison for the charges, along with possible fines and court costs.

Lucas Finton is a news reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Millington man enters guilty plea for role in January 6 attack