News

Richard Preston, charged with firing a gun at August 12 rally, granted $50,000 bond

Photo: WINA


CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WINA) – Two men were in Charlottesville Circuit Court on Thursday, January 4, for bond hearings in two cases connected with the Unite the Right rally. One was granted bond, but the other will remain in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail until he goes to trial.

Richard Wilson Preston, 52, who is charged with discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, was granted bond at $50,000. That after Imperial Wizard Billy Snuffer of the Rebel Brigade Knights was able to post bond and convince the judge that his fellow Klansman would not leave the home Snuffer is providing. Three other friends of Preston attended the hearing and offered their support, as well.

Preston is not allowed to leave the state or possess a gun.

Also in court was Jacob Scott Goodwin, 23, of Arkansas. He is one of three who have been charged in the beating of Deandre Harris inside the Market Street Parking Garage. Defense attorney Elmer Woodard, who also represents both Preston and Chris Cantwell, was unable to convince Judge Humes Franklin that Goodwin would not bring harm to himself or others if released.

Preston’s three-day jury trial is scheduled to begin May 9. Goodwin’s two-day jury trial is scheduled for April 30.

There were two people of interest who attended Thursday’s hearings. Next to Jason Kessler, the man behind Unite the Right, sat Matt Heimbach of the Traditionalist Worker Party, one of the largest groups to attend the rally. Back on August 14, 2017, Heimbach attended the arraignment of James Alex Fields, the Ohio man charged with first degree murder for the death of Heather Heyer. He and another member of the TWP spoke loudly outside the courthouse in defense of Fields, who they say was acting in self-defense when his car ran into a crowd of counterprotesters at 4th and Market Streets. Surrounded first by a large crowd of local and national reporters, then local residents demanding that the two leave, Heimbach grinned and said, “We’ll be back.”

Latest News

38 minutes ago in Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, Local, Local Nonprofits

National mental health organization to host ‘The Night Out’ in Charlottesville

Fresh
The Night Out 2025, a fundraiser for The Breaking the Chains Foundation.

The Breaking the Chains foundation will host the third-annual dinner event on Sept. 14 at the Wool Factory.

20 hours ago in Charlottesville City, Local

Free Bridge campers begin to move out as city opens Holiday Dr. shelter

City officials said they hoped to have all the residents out of the Free Bridge encampment by about 8 p.m. and the campsite cleared by Wednesday morning.

22 hours ago in Albemarle County, Local

Albemarle Supervisors to consider Southwood second phase agreement with Habitat

Supervisors will also consider charging for MicroCAT rides that have been free during a pilot program.

22 hours ago in Entertainment

Amid backlash, museum cancels planned Met Gala exhibit on fashion designer John Galliano

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is canceling its planned exhibit honoring British designer John Galliano — plans that had led to bitter backlash from the Jewish community and beyond because of the designer's past antisemitic and racist statements.

22 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Jury convicts a man of first-degree murder for the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur

A jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur, finally bringing a measure of resolution to a case that had gripped hip-hop fans and lingered in the public imagination for decades.