Virginia man sentenced for setting car on fire at US Capitol
WASHINGTON () — A Lorton, Va. man was sentenced Friday after he set his car ablaze at the U.S. Capitol as former President Jimmy Carter lay in state.
According to court documents, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) began investigating a vehicle fire on the U.S. Capitol grounds at around 5 p.m. on Jan. 8. At the time, Carter was lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda, and numerous government officials were visiting.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: US Capitol Police arrest man for trying to light car on fire
Adrian J. Hinton, 36, had driven his car from Virginia to Washington, D.C. earlier that day, parking near the memorial to Ulysses S. Grant. He then removed a bottle, dumped liquid on the top of his car and ignited it, setting the vehicle on fire.
Hinton told responding USCP officers that the liquid was gasoline and Crisco.
He was taken into custody quickly after the fire started and apologised for inconveniencing the USCP, according to court documents. He reportedly said he was not trying to set himself on fire, but only set his car ablaze to protest the recent presidential election.
The fire department was able to safely extinguish the fire and other officials, including bomb technicians, rendered the scene safe.
Woodbridge woman charged after driving while intoxicated with young children, police say
He pleaded guilty to destruction of government property on Jan. 31, just weeks after the incident.
On May 23, Hinton was sentenced to one year of supervised release, plus 125 hours of community service.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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