James Alex Fields, Jr., the 22-year-old white supremacist who plowed his vehicle into a group of counter-protestors at the racist Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally will get no mercy after all.
According to USA Today, Fields, who is responsible for killing Heather Heyer and injuring dozens of other protesters was sentenced to life in prison on Friday on federal hate crime charges.
Prior to sentencing, Fields pleaded to a judge for mercy, arguing that he should not have to spend his entire life in prison for his crimes. His lawyers asked for a shorter sentence due to Field’s age, his history of mental illness and other “trauma.”
Due to a plea deal arranged with federal prosecutors, Fields, originally from Ohio, will not face the death penalty.
Fields apologized before the judge gave his sentence, but there were no further deals to be struck.
But the case is not over for the 22-year-old, who is a known admirer of Adolf Hitler. Fields faces sentencing – scheduled for July 15 – on separate state murder charges. According to the report, a jury has already recommended a life sentence, plus 419 years.