Jury Recommends Life Sentence For Charlottesville Killer James Fields, and an Extra 419 Years Just in Case

It took four hours of deliberation over two days following his conviction last Friday, but the jury in the trial of James Alex Fields, 21, who killed Heather Heyer with his car at 2017’s “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, has been sentenced to life in prison and then some. Per WTVR:

They also recommended a $100,000 fine on the murder count. For the five counts of aggravated malicious wounding, the jury said Fields should receive 350 years and a $350,000 fine, and for the three counts of malicious wounding, he should get 60 years and a $30,000 fine. For the final count of leaving the scene of the accident, the jury ruled Fields should be imprisoned for nine years.

That adds up to $480,000 and 419 years—not chump change, and not chump…years, either. Fields reportedly stared straight ahead when the decision was read, which is good practice for the rest of his life. The judge accepted the jury’s recommendation, but will not sentence until late March.

On Monday, Heather Heyer’s mother read a statement in court, telling Fields and the jury that “some days I can’t do anything but sit and cry as the grief overtakes me.”

Jeanne “Star” Peterson, who was also injured in the crash and still uses a wheelchair for mobility, told the court that she’s dealt with pain that “words cannot describe,” and that her seven-year-old son is afraid to go out in public for fear of another attack.

Fields also faces 30 hate crimes at the federal level.