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Nearly six years after a large gathering of white nationalists in Charlottesville erupted in violent clashes with counterprotesters, a grand jury in Virginia has indicted several people on felony charges for carrying out burning torches with the intent to intimidate.
The Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said in a news release that the charges are related to events on August 11, 2017. That was when a group of white nationalists carrying torches marched through the campus of the University of Virginia, some chanting, “Jews will not replace us.”
Commonwealth’s Attorney James Hingeley did not say how many people were charged and did not immediately return calls and emails seeking comment Tuesday. According to electronic court records, indictments against three people have been unsealed, including William Zachary Smith, of Nacona, Texas; Tyler Bradley Dykes, of Bluffton, SC; and Dallas Medina, of Ravenna, Ohio.
Each was charged with one count of setting fire to an object with intent to frighten a person or group of people. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Smith’s attorney, Cody Villalon, declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday. Dykes and Medina do not have attorney names listed in electronic court records.
The indictment, which was issued in February but only recently unsealed, comes nearly six years after violence erupted during two days of demonstrations with the largest gathering of white nationalists in a decade.
The probe continues even through the years
Clashes began on the night of August 11, 2017, during a torchlight march, and continued the next day, when a “Unite the Right” rally was planned.
James Alex Fields Jr., a white supremacist from Maumee, Ohio, rammed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters on August 12, killing one woman, Heather Heyer, and wounding dozens. Fields is serving a life sentence for murder and a hate crime.
Prosecutors said the indictment was issued “as part of an active and ongoing criminal investigation,” adding that they are cooperating with law enforcement to investigate, analyze applicable laws and bring charges “if appropriate.”
“This is our process regardless of how much time has passed or where the alleged offender may have been found,” he said.
Former president Donald Trump drew criticism when he said there were “very good people on both sides” of the clashes between white nationalists and anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville.
Joe Biden said Trump’s lackluster response strengthened his decision to run for president in 2020.
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