A 58-year-old Arlington man has been found guilty of intentionally striking a bicyclist near Long Bridge Park, but he probably won't serve time for it. Samuel Thernstrom was found guilty of two misdemeanors on Tuesday: assault and battery and property damage under $1,000. He faced up to a year in jail but received only a
If you read the article:
That’s Va. Code § 18.2-51, which is functionally what you’re talking about.
As to why the charge was reduced, the article doesn’t say, and I assume the author doesn’t know, as the article says many of the records are sealed.