A white Arkansas man charged in the beating of a black man during a violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been found guilty of malicious wounding.
News outlets report 23-year-old Jacob Scott Goodwin was found guilty Tuesday for the August attack on 20-year-old DeAndre Harris.
The jury recommended a sentence of 10 years, with the option of suspending some time and a $20,000 fine.
Harris suffered a spinal injury, a broken arm and head lacerations that required eight staples after the parking garage assault. Three others were arrested.
Goodwin claimed self-defense. However, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Nina-Alice Antony said it was Goodwin who wanted to square off.
She argued that Goodwin was dressed for "battle" with a military tactical helmet, goggles and shield during the attack, The Washington Post reported.
While he wore also pins associated with a code for "Heil Hitler" and the white-nationalist group Traditionalist Worker Party, Goodwin was not questioned during the trial about his possible affiliation with such groups, the paper reported.
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Still, the issue came up during closing arguments when Goodwin's lawyer said, “They want you to convict this man because he’s white, and DeAndre is a black man.” That drew an objection from Antony, who said she had avoiding making the case about race, the Post reported.
The rally was held to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a city park.