Pilot Mountain woman becomes first Triad resident convicted in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

[TexasTowelie]

A Pilot Mountain woman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge Thursday in connection to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, according to court records. She is accused, along with her husband, of going into the U.S. Capitol without permission.

Virginia Marie Spencer, 38, became the first person from the Triad to be convicted on charges related to what happened on Jan. 6. On that day, hundreds of people stormed the U.S. Capitol, assaulting law-enforcement officers and causing $1.4 million in property damage, in an effort to stop the U.S. Congress from certifying the presidential election. They falsely believed that the election had been stolen from former president Donald Trump due to voter fraud. There is no evidence that Trump won the election.

Spencer appeared via Zoom in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. and pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. She also had been facing three other misdemeanor charges — entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

As part of the plea arrangement, federal prosecutors will request that those remaining charges be dismissed. Spencer could face a six-month prison sentence. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled Spencer’s sentencing for Jan. 7, 2022. Spencer will be out on pre-trial release until then.

Read more: https://journalnow.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/pilot-mountain-woman-becomes-first-triad-resident-convicted-in-jan-6-capitol-attack/article_aac2bfde-11a9-11ec-b0de-bb766ac6b1f4.html
(Winston-Salem Journal)

Virginia Spencer said, according to a criminal complaint, that when Trump talked about marching to the Capitol, she and her husband made their way to the building. She said she and her husband were forced into the building by the force of the crowd. They said they left within 15 minutes. Investigators said video footage does not show the Spencers actively looking for a way out. They also said video shows Virginia Spencer using her phone inside the building in what appeared to be an effort to record the events.

She also wore a gray knit cap, a black facemask and a jacket with the anti-gun-control message: “F*** gun control,” with the letters F and K formed by weapons positioned accordingly.

[Sherman A1]

1. 6 Months?

She is getting by pretty cheap. I would like the lot of them sent to Gitmo and the key tossed away.

[Rorey]

2. She probably already served some time

So she'll get that taken off. So she got a slap on the wrist.

[OldBaldy1701E]

4. I am beginning to wonder

If this is becoming little more than a rush to get as many of them charged with anything that will stick just so they can say, "Hey look, we went after them and they got charged. Now let's forget about the whole thing and move on!" One has to wonder why anyone would obey any laws or rules when the results of being caught transgressing translates into a minor inconvenience at best. (Well, for anyone who is white and kissing the ass of the status quo. The rest of us get shot down in the street for a traffic stop.)

[Harker]

9. +33. n/t

[reACTIONary]

10. Those claims were put into the criminal complaint, they..

... were not part of a defense. In fact, there wasn't a defense - she pled guilty. To plead guilty, she will have to admit wrongdoing and show contrition. At least that is what I've observed so far.

[Botany]

5. A misdemeanor and up to 6 months for taking part in a coup attempt to violently overthrow our ...

... Constitutional democracy? And during that violence 5 people died, over 100 police officers were
injured, police lines were crossed, 30 million $s in damage to the US Capitol, and people were looking
to kill Speaker Pelosi and the Vice President.



"causing $1.4 million in property damage," no try > 30 million $s in damage.


many of these Olmsted Laterns were damaged in the violence and they date back
to the 1880s and to the guy who designed Central Park, Fredrick Law Olmsted.

[FailureToCommunicate]

6. Yup. Seems about white.

(Hattip to another DUer for that turn of phrase.)

[gab13by13]

8. We won't even remember her

in January when she gets slapped on the wrist. I bet money she won't get 6 months for an attempted coup. Lucky she didn't mistakenly vote in the wrong voting district.

[gab13by13]

7. Sounds to me this will be the norm,

the insurrectionists can plead guilty and the more serious charges will be dropped. That's really holding them accountable. The courts must really be filled up if it takes until January to sentence her? It makes me wonder if by waiting it's easier to give her a light sentence.

She can participate in the September 18 rally in DC now that she won't be sentenced until January.

[sloopdog50]

11. Misdemeanor?

Somewhere in the complaint, there should be found a felony. I wish all these tRumpers could be convicted of a felony, causing them the loss of firearms and the loss of the vote. I don't believe the punishment fit the crime these goobers committed.

[KPN]

14. Whitewash! This is disappointing as well as an invitation

to come and do it again cuz why not?