The man accused of mowing down a counter-protester Saturday during a Virginia white supremacist rally flunked out of basic training two years ago, the U.S. Army told Fox News on Monday.
James Fields, who was denied bond and didn't enter a plea during a brief video link appearance from his jail cell before a Virginia judge on Monday, reported for basic military training in August 2015 but soon washed out.
James Alex Fields flunked out of basic training, the U.S. Army told Fox News. (AP)
"He was, however, released from active duty due to a failure to meet training standards in December of 2015," Army Lt. Col. LTC Paul Haverstick, a Pentagon spokesman, said. "As a result he was never awarded a military occupational skill nor was he assigned to a unit outside of basic training."
Fields appeared stoic and was looking down during his Monday court appearance. Because a relative of the public defender's office was involved in Saturday's incident, no one from that office could represent Fields, who is alleged to have plowed his car into a crowd, killing Heather Heyer, a Virginia paralegal.
Fields confirmed he had no previous ties to the Charlottesville community and hailed from Maumee, Ohio.
Fields was appointed a lawyer and his next court date is set for Aug. 25, though a judge may reconsider his bond application prior to that.
Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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