Virginia school board member who admits drinking at Capitol goes to jail for Jan. 6 riot

A Virginia school board member who bragged about drinking beer in the Capitol during the January 6 riot will spend 12 days behind bars for storming the halls of Congress.

Miles Adkins, 39, pleaded guilty to two federal misdemeanors in connection with the riot and was sentenced to 12 days in jail — to be served only on weekends — plus two years of probation, fines and restitution.

Despite pleading guilty, Adkins said NBC4 News that he is refusing to give in to demands from community members who want him to resign from his position on the Frederick County Public Schools board.

“You’re going to need a bigger wrecking ball to get me out of there,” he told a reporter.

During the hearing, Adkins’ defense attorney argued that his client had simply been duped by conservative media and former President Donald Trump, which absolved him of responsibility for storming the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

Not only was Adkins among the first to illegally enter the Capitol, he also drank beer and whiskey inside and helped others break into the federal building, investigators said. At one point, he shouted, “Let’s go get a beer, let’s go get a beer.”

“I drank Fireball and Coors Lite in the Capitol,” Adkins later boasted in a social media post, according to witness testimony.

During sentencing, the judge noted that this wasn’t the first time Adkins had found himself on the wrong side of the law; he had been previously charged with drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Bryan Nuri, a social activist who also spoke with NBC4 Newswondered what message Adkins’ district sent to children that he was allowed to remain in his high-ranking position despite his criminal record.

He and other parents demanded his resignation.

“We are calling on him to resign because he is actually undermining the integrity of our core functions as members of the community and as elected officials,” Nuri said.

Under Virginia law, a school board member can be removed from office if he or she is convicted of a felony.

While some in the community have pushed for his resignation, the majority of the school board has remained silent about their colleague and has given no indication that they intend to hold him accountable for his actions, Winchester Star reports.

“We are mindful of the court’s decision to sentence Mr. Adkins,” the school board said in a joint statement after the verdict. “However, our focus will remain where it should be: the children of our county. We will continue to make decisions that serve the best interests of our students while ensuring that the educational environment in our schools is not disrupted by these events.”

Even if board members wanted to remove Adkins, they do not have the power to do so; only members of the Shawnee community that Adkins represents can vote to remove him.