Nicholas Fuentes, a far-right internet personality known for his racist, sexist and anti-Semitic views, appeared in court Thursday for his first hearing on a misdemeanor charge stemming from a confrontation with a woman outside his Berwyn home last month.

Fuentes, 26, faces charges for allegedly pepper-spraying 57-year-old woman Marla Rose when she confronted him on Nov. 10 about a social media post he made, according to court records and an interview with Rose stated to the Sun-Times.

Rose said she wanted to talk to Fuentes about a post he made five days earlier on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, that said, “Your body, my choice.” Forever. ”

The post referenced the slogan “My Body, My Choice,” used by people who support abortion rights.

In a video recorded by Rose on her phone, Fuentes allegedly opened the door to his home after she rang the doorbell, immediately sprayed her with a substance believed to be pepper spray, and then sprayed her phone took into the house. Berwyn police later recovered the phone.

The woman filed a police report and Fuentes was arrested and charged on November 27. Fuentes was released on his own recognizance and summoned to appear in court on the charges Thursday.

Under Illinois law, which eliminated the use of cash bail last year, Fuentes was not required to post bail.

Simple assault, a Class A misdemeanor, is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine. Assault crimes in Illinois can be remanded in custody if prosecutors request it and a judge makes certain findings in the case. However, defendants in Illinois have a presumption that they will be released.

Fuentes, his attorney and Rose each appeared for the brief hearing via the live streaming service Zoom before Judge Shawnte Raines-Welch at the Fourth District Courthouse in Maywood.

The judge informed Fuentes of his rights and the standard conditions of his interim release, including that he will not commit any new crimes and will appear at any further hearing.

The judge also ordered that Fuentes and Rose have no contact with each other while the case is pending. A status hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 16 for prosecutors to allow Fuentes’ attorney to clarify.

A small group of protesters apparently holding homemade signs critical of Fuentes were seen outside the courthouse, but left before the hearing after learning that Fuentes would not appear in person.

Fuentes’ attorney Robert Rascia said he advised his client to appear via Zoom to avoid a possible confrontation with the public.

Defendants typically appear in person at their initial hearings, but since the Covid-19 pandemic, appearing remotely has become common in Cook County.

Supreme Court rules give justices discretion to decide whether to allow remote appearances, which Raines-Welch said was granted by Geary Kull, the courthouse’s acting chief judge.

A spokeswoman for Chief Justice Tim Evans said the exception was made for Fuentes after Kull was informed of a “potential security risk.” Rose was also given the opportunity to attend the hearing via Zoom, the spokeswoman said.