WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th March, 2019) James Fields, the 21-year old white supremacist who drove a car into a crowd of counter-protesters at a 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has pleaded guilty to 29 hate crime charges, the US Department of Justice announced in a press release.
"The charges included one count of a hate crime act that resulted in the death of Heather Heyer, and 28 counts of hate crime acts that caused bodily injury and involved an attempt to kill other people within the crowd," the release stated on Wednesday. "Each of the 29 counts carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000."
US Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray underscored the significance of the plea by joining prosecutors in issuing the release.
"Prosecuting hate crimes is a priority for me," Barr said. "These hate crimes are also acts of domestic terrorism."
According to a statement of facts, Fields said he drove into the crowd of counter-protesters because of the actual and perceived race, color, national origin and religion of its members, the release said. Fields also admitted killing Heyer and that he wanted to kill others he hit with his car.
Fields also admitted that prior to the August 12, 2017 rally he used social media accounts to express and promote white supremacist views and to praise Hitler and Nazi Germany for the Holocaust, the release said.
