A state court sentenced neo-Nazi James Fields Jr. to life in prison Monday, plus 419 years and $480,000 in fines due to Fields’ violent role in the white supremacist “Unite the Right” rally held in Charlottesville in August 2017. Fields drove his car into counter-protestors who had been demonstrating in opposition to the white supremacist and neo-Nazi messages, killing 32-year-old Charlottesville resident Heather Heyer and injuring dozens others.
Fields was sentenced to life in prison without parole by a federal judge last month, after he pleaded guilty to 29 of 30 hate crime charges in March.
In December, a Charlottesville jury charged Fields with counts of first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, malicious wounding and leaving the scene of an accident. A state jury made the recommendation of life in prison plus 419 years, and Judge Richard Moore issued the sentence Monday.
Throughout the trial, Fields’ attorneys cited mental health issues as a mitigating factor and asked for a sentence that would allow the defendant to eventually be released from prison. However, courts found that Fields’ history of racist and anti-Semitic beliefs and footage from the scene of the attack showed the premeditated malicious intent in his actions.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | YesterdayUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | YesterdayEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
