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Driver Indicted for Hate Crimes in Charlottesville

James Fields could face the death penalty if he’s convicted on one of 30 charges announced yesterday by the federal government.  He’s the man who police say drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters last summer in Charlottesville. 

After a 10-month investigation, U.S. Attorney Tom Cullen announced 30 charges against 21-year-old James Fields, concluding he was a racist and an anti-Semite who was motivated by hate.

“We’re hopeful that in putting out this indictment today that folks get the message that if they come to Charlottesville and engage in racially motivated violence there will be severe consequences,” Cullen said 

He pledged his office would continue to investigate what happened on August 12th and suggested the public stay tuned.  While President Trump may have hedged about what happened here, Assistant Attorney General John Gore made it clear that fighting hate crimes was a priority for the federal government.

"Of course no investigation and no indictment and no prosecution can bring back Miss Heyer or undo the painful harm inflicted on so many others," Gore said, "but today’s indictment sends a clear an unequivocal message.  Combatting hate crime is and will remain one of the top priorities of the Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Division."

Outside the courthouse, Heyer’s mother – Susan Bro – said she was glad to hear the charges against Fields but saw no reason to celebrate.

"I think it’s a tragedy all the way around.  I lost my child, but he’s also so young to be so stupid, and I really hate that for him, but I didn’t make the choices.  He made them," she concluded.

Fields could be sentenced to death if convicted on one of 30 counts, but Bro did not call for capital punishment in the case.

"I’m going to leave that to the process to decide.  It’s not my place to decide that," she said.

Fields also faces a local charge of murder.

Sandy Hausman is Radio IQ's Charlottesville Bureau Chief
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