A man who was convicted of assault and battery against "Unite the Right" leader Jason Kessler — a white supremacist — learned his fate in court Tuesday: a $1 fine, the Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Virginia, reported.
Jeffrey Winder was charged with assault and battery after Kessler was chased from his Charlottesville news conference on Aug. 13, 2017, the paper said. At the news event in front of city hall, Kessler blamed police for violence at his failed Unite the Right — during which 32 year-old counterprotester Heather Heyer was killed — the previous day, the Daily Progress noted.
Kessler was then mobbed by angry onlookers, and prosecutors said Winder could be seen on video punching Kessler, the paper reported.
A counterprotester appears to try to punch Jason Kessler, a "Unite the Right" rally leader, after Kessler tried to speak outside the Charlottesville (Virginia) City Hall on Aug. 13, 2017. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Winder has never admitted he's the man seen in videos or photographs throwing the punch, the Daily Progress said, but special prosecutor D. Michael Caudill said there was evidence enough to convict him. Winder was found guilty of assault and battery in February and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all time suspended, the paper said.
A counterprotester appears to try to punch Jason Kessler, a "Unite the Right" rally leader, after Kessler tried to speak outside the Charlottesville (Virginia) City Hall on Aug. 13, 2017. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Winder appealed his verdict to Charlottesville Circuit Court, where a seven-person jury heard arguments, saw video and photographs, and heard testimony, the Daily Progress reported.
“I was attacked in front of the whole world, and then people made fun of me for it,” Kessler said in court, according to the paper, adding that he wasn't physically injured.
The jury found Winder guilty of assault and battery, the Daily Progress reported, adding that a few jurors could be seen tearing up as their verdict was read.
The jury could have sentenced Winder to up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine — but opted for a $1 fine and no jail time instead, the paper said.
"They clearly thought about it very sincerely," Winder's attorney James Abrenio told National Public Radio in regard to the jury, adding that the judge and prosecutor also were "kind." Abrenio said on Twitter he defended Winder for free, NPR added.
Kessler said he's planning to sue the city and police department for $117 million over “failing to protect him” at the news conference, the Daily Progress said.
Abrenio told the Washington Post that Kessler had been trying to “personally benefit” from the attack.
“He set it up where he could cause violence to happen and become a martyr for his so-called cause,” he added, according to the Post.
