A Virginia man who was convicted of punching “Unite the Right” rally organizer Jason Kessler in August of last year was fined just $1, according to various reports.
On Tuesday, Jeffrey Winder was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery for a second time after an appeal trial.
According to prosecutors, Winder could be seen on video punching Kessler, who was mobbed and chased away after he gave a press conference on August 13, 2017, the day after the rally in Charlottesville drew hundreds of white supremacists and counter protesters. A woman was killed and dozens more were injured when a car driven by white supremacist crashed into a crowd of counter protesters.
As Kessler gave remarks to the media during the conference, a crowd gathered and began heckling, ultimately chasing him away from the podium.
As PIX 11 points out, Winder could have been sentenced to up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine, but they decided instead to give him a $1 fine with no jail time. Some jurors could reportedly be seen getting emotional as the verdict was read.
Winder’s attorney, James Abrenio, said Kessler was 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 said.
Last week Kessler said that the attack caused him to endure mockery.
“I was attacked in front of the whole world, and then people made fun of me for it,” he said during the trial last week, according to The Daily Progress.
Winder has reportedly never admitted to punching Kessler and could still appeal this latest conviction.
Kessler was in the news once again last month when a livestream discussion he was having with neo-Nazi former Senate Candidate Patrick Little went viral after his dad interrupted the webcast and yelled at Kessler to “get out of my room.”
Featured image via screen grab/YouTube
