CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a recent development, another individual involved in a 2017 rally at the University of Virginia has reached a plea agreement. Dallas Jerome Nicholas Medina, a 32-year-old resident of Ravenna, Ohio, faced initial charges of felony intimidation but has since pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct in Albemarle County Circuit Court on October 31. As per the terms of the deal, he will not face any jail time, as reported by local news outlets.
Medina’s attorney, Mike Hallahan, commented on the verdict, suggesting that it represented a fair solution for all parties involved. “It seemed like a reasonable outcome for everybody, a reasonable compromise,” Hallahan stated following the court proceedings.
This case is part of a wider investigation into the events of August 11, 2017, when a group of white nationalists marched across the University of Virginia campus holding torches, while some participants reportedly shouted chants like “Jews will not replace us.” Medina marks the fourth individual to accept a plea deal connected to this incident.
Out of the more than a dozen cases related to this rally, four have resulted in misdemeanor pleas. Additionally, six individuals have faced felony convictions, and one case ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a consensus.
During the proceedings, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Lawton Tufts presented three reasons justifying the reduced charge: Medina’s clean criminal history, the lack of allegations regarding any assaults, and his actions in helping to de-escalate a confrontation between attendees.
When given the opportunity to speak, Medina opted to remain brief and reserved. “I got to go home,” he mentioned simply, adding a note of apology.
