2 men charged in beating at Charlottesville rally head to grand jury

Charges against two men accused in connection with a violent assault that occurred in the Market Street parking garage on Aug. 12 are heading to a grand jury.

In a preliminary hearing in Charlottesville on Thursday, the charges against Alex Ramos and Jacob Goodwin were sent to a grand jury. Both are charged with felony assault for the beating of Deandre Harris.

The incident was

and has been seen all over the world. Video shows 20-year-old Harris being beaten by several men outside a parking garage at the rally. Harris' attorney, S. Lee Merritt, said Harris was left with a concussion, abrasions and contusions across his body, as well as a knee injury, a fractured wrist and a head laceration that required staples after the clash.

Attorneys for Ramos and Goodwin argued on Thursday that neither man was acting with malice in the fight, but they were acting in self-defense. However, the judge still said there was harm.

"There's no question that they were all acting to do Mr. Harris harm," said Judge Bob Downer.

Harris is also facing charges in the incident, accused of malicious wounding, but prosecutors filed a motion recently asking to have that charge reduced to misdemeanor assault.

He was supposed to be in court on Thursday as well, but his hearing was pushed to Jan. 10.

Harris

, but his attorney said the charge against him was "clearly retaliatory."

The Charlottesville grand jury will take up the cases against Ramos and Goodwin on Dec. 18.