A trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 31 for a man who is considered a victim in the July 26 Downtown brawl and is one of the people facing criminal charges.
Alex Tchervinski, 46, faces one count of disorderly conduct, a low-level misdemeanor that typically results in a fine. The case is being prosecuted by the city.
But Hamilton County prosecutors have considered Tchervinski a victim in felony assault cases against multiple people accused of attacking him. His attorney has said he was struck 28 times in the head and face, and suffered from concussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The July 26 incident and the charges surrounding it quickly became politicized, after video showing parts of it went viral online and drew comments from people including Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk.
Tchervinski, who is White, was charged more than three weeks after the incident – after there had been public outcry because at that point every other person charged was Black.
There were accusations that pressure on city leadership, a few months before a City Council and mayoral election, led to Tchervinski being charged. The city’s police union said the charge was unwarranted and was ordered by city leadership. The city has said no order was made.
Video clips of the fighting, which were posted online in the days after the incident, showed some of the fighting. Another video posted in October appeared to show how the brawl began.
In that video, from a city surveillance camera, there was an exchange, and a man appeared to strike Tchervinski twice, from behind.
Shortly after, Tchervinski kicked a white vehicle that was parked near where he was struck. A man in a red shirt then ran up to Tchervinski and struck him multiple times. At least two others also punched or attempted to punch Tchervinski.Later in the video, Tchervinski is then seen having an exchange with the man in the red shirt before Tchervinski slapped him in the head or face. That’s when the brawl erupted, and Tchervinski ultimately was knocked to the pavement.
Disorderly conduct is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. The case is in Hamilton County Municipal Court before Judge Donte Johnson.
This report will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man named both victim and defendant in viral Cincinnati brawl to stand trial
Reporting by Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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