The driver who hit a protester in May 2020 has been acquitted of assault charges

Jennifer Watson was found not guilty of an assault by a jury, though they found her guilty of reckless driving.

Images from a cell phone video posted by Twitter user bellers03.

Esteban L. Hernandez

Jul. 13, 2021, 1:05 p.m.

A woman seen in a video striking a protester with her car in May 2020 was found not guilty of assault by a jury after a brief trial last week.

The Denver County Court jury found Jennifer Watson not guilty of assault, but found her guilty of reckless driving, a misdemeanor, according to her attorney Ryan W. Brackley. The trial started on July 7, before closing arguments were delivered on July 8. Brackley said jurors delivered their verdict around noon July 9.

The incident happened as protesters took to the streets after the death of George Floyd to denounce police violence and racism. Those demonstrations ended up lasting most of the summer. There was at least one additional incident involving a driver who struck a protester during demonstrations last year. A person was struck in September after a rally for Breonna Taylor.

Brackley said Watson is scheduled to appear for sentencing in Denver County Court Aug. 2. He declined to comment on her potential sentencing.

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