In DC Case Ronnie Sandlin Detained After Smoked Pot in Capitol & Delayed FBI Turn-in
Nevada Magistrate Judge emphasized Sandlin's failure to turn himself in, his pot smoking and large tax debt to the US. Sandlin appeared to sob
By Matthew Russell Lee, Song, PatreonPodcast
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, Feb 1 – The January 6 Capitol entry by Ronnie Sandler, who streamed himself smoking pot in the Chamber, gave rise to a lengthy and twice interrupted detention proceeding on February 1 in Nevada. He was detained. Inner City Press live tweeted it here:
Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts: Do you have any medical issues?
Sandlin: I have sleep apnea. But I don't have insurance. Judge: You are charged with obstructing law enforcement, civil disorder and knowing entering restricted building or grounds
Here's photo US says is of Sandlin smoking pot in the Capitol on January 6
Judge: I am appointing CJA lawyer Mr. Marsh to represent you. Have you spoken with him? Sandlin: Yes, Your Honor. AUSA: The government is seeking detention. [It sounds like Mr Sandlin is crying.]
AUSA: The defendant tried to stop the certification of the president. The VP and others were in danger. We have social media. With Degrave, before the court today as well, he discussed going to DC. In his selfie-style video he said Freedom is paid for in blood
AUSA: He said, it's time to take the Capitol. We need to Occupy it. 1 pm, it's all going to go down. It was the time of the joint session of Congress. He's charged with two felonies. He shoved the Capitol police. He tried to rip off their helmets. AUSA: He was in Senate chamber, almost in tears. [Like now]
AUSA: He posted video of himself smoking pot, it went viral in the New York papers. He gave up his lease in Tennessee, went to California, and now Nevada. A co-defendant turned himself in.
AUSA: Defendant self-admits he uses marijuana daily. He has owed $500,000 in back taxes. Defense lawyer Marsh: I'm not going to try to justify what happened on January 6.
Sandlin's lawyer: Unless there's some sort of enhancement for insurrection or domestic terrorism, which I don't think would apply, it's 7 points. All they have is risk of flight and obstruction of justice - and for that, all they have is deletion of social media
Sandlin's lawyer: He lived in Nevada a couple of years. He grew up in California. He lived with his parents in Tennessee. I'll be proposing a plan of release. A lawyer told him, wait for the FBI to reach out to you. It was bad advise. But he didn't know
Sandlin himself: I told my parents I was going to be called by the FBI, and they overnighted me a suit. Instead I got tackled by five officers. Defense lawyer: His father is a chemical engineer now unemployed, his mother a retired Parochial school teacher. They are upstanding. He has his dogs there. He produces content there. His guns were with his uncle.
Zoom drops out. Deputy says it's a nationwide problem. They cut the audio. FWIW, the Nevada District Court website does not list the court calendar, much less call in numbers. But that's for another day
Nevada Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts: We had a glitch, and we're trying to get Mr. Sandlin back up from the facility. Bear with me. Thank you. Then he asked the AUSA to, in the future, sent courtesy copy of detention memo to chambers.
While we wait, here's a tale of two Ronnie Sandlins - at bottom, smoking pot in the Capitol at top, "Latest Course Download," in suit like his parents overnighted him from Tennessee
Sandlin's lawyer: He could live on a farm outside of Memphis Tennessee. Some of his equipment is there. His dogs are there. His guns are with his uncle Alfred Dearan. His mother could travel with him to DC.
AUSA: The drug use, he is not charged with. There could be testing. He has sleep apnea, he hasn't been able to use the machine during his three days in jail. Sandlin: My parents overnighted me a suit. Judge: The Court agrees with Pre-Trial he is a flight risk
Judge: His behavior after Jan 6 -- "you've got to be kidding me. Video conference kicked me off again." Sandlin had started crying before it was cut off. Judge has already said, he's a flight risk. The not turning himself in but instead waiting for the suit, hmm
OK, Judge Daniel J. Albregts is back: "We have questions about his lack of business license and his large tax bill" [loud sob] "his substance abuse history and his firearms. I also find he is a risk to obstruct justice. Are there conditions to address this? No.
Judge: I will detain you pending your transfer to DC. You will be in the custody of the US Marshals
Now AUSA objects to Judge's Rule 5(f) admonishment, saying it goes broader than Brady & does not include materiality. Judge: I'll note that objection [to the 9th Circuit] when I read it this week. Voice: Mr. Sandlin, knock on that door, let's let you out. Really?
Inner City Press live tweeted Riley June Williams on January 25, here.
And now, #insurrectionBlues has gone electric, here
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From January 22, song here: Thread here.
InnerCityPress · Insurrection Blues, by Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press' John Earle Sullivan song on SoundCloud here.
InnerCityPress · John Sullivan Insurrection Blues II by Matthew Russell Lee
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