Man Who Ran Over Charlottesville Protester Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus 419 years

Police blocking off the street after a car rammed into a crowd of counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Va., Aug. 12, 2017. (Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

(JTA) — A jury in Charlottesville, Va., recommended a sentence of life in prison plus 419 years for the man who rammed his car into a group of counterprotesters at a far-right rally, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

The jury in the Virginia district court made its recommendation for the sentencing of James Alex Fields Jr., 20, on Dec. 11 following four hours of deliberations over two days, including listening to statements from victims. It also recommended a fine of nearly half a million dollars.

On Dec. 7, the same jury found Fields guilty of first-degree murder on its first day of deliberations following a trial of nearly two weeks.

Fields also was convicted on nine other counts, including hit and run, for injuring at least 20 others with his vehicle.

He also is charged with 30 federal hate crimes, which will involve a federal trial.

The rally on Aug, 12, 2017, was held under the banner of “Unite the Right.” It was organized originally to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

You May Also Like
Sandra R. Berman Center for Humanity, Tolerance & Holocaust Education Dedicated at Towson University
The Sandra R. Berman Center for Humanity, Tolerance and Holocaust Education

The center's mission is to promote education on humanity, tolerance and the Shoah to highlight the dangers of bigotry and intolerance.

Orioles Sale to David Rubenstein Group Approved by Major League Baseball
David Rubenstein

The product of a blue-collar Jewish family, the Baltimore-born Rubenstein, 74, is a multi-billionaire lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.

Two Orthodox Men Attacked in Northwest Baltimore While Walking to Synagogue
Mt. Washington

Baltimore County Police and Shomrim are searching for a black Kia Optima with the license plate 4BA3705.

Manischewitz Announces Rebranding of its Product Line
Manischewitz

The rebranding of the nation's leading kosher brand comes shortly before the start of the Festival of Freedom.