White supremacist James Alex Fields Jr., who deliberately drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been sentenced to life in prison for violation of federal hate crimes. In support of the rally of Nazis, Fields killed activist Heather Heyer and injured over 20 others. He faces additional charges in a Virginia state court.
Fields pleaded guilty on 29 counts. A 30th charge, which carried a possible death penalty, was dropped.
Prosecutors reported that Fields showed no remorse for racist and anti-Semitic statements or for the injuries and death he caused in Charlottesville. The courtroom audience was stunned as prosecutors related an account of a high school trip during which Fields visited a German death camp. According to a classmate, Fields remarked, "This is where the magic happened."
The sentencing hearing was prolonged, as 20 victim statements were read. Last to speak was Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer, who said, “I don't know if Mr. Fields can ever be trusted in society. I hope he can heal someday and help others heal too.” Speaking to CNN, Bro added, “I know that he had a difficult childhood. I know that he has mental health issues. But I've known lots of people with those same issues who did not commit murder." Throughout the hearing, Fields did not speak or look at any of his victims.
The state charges Fields still faces are first-degree murder and multiple counts of assault, wounding, and hit-and-run. A jury has already recommended a sentence of life plus 419 years on those charges.