Jury Will Decide Additional Punitive Damages Against Alex Jones

NEWTOWN, CT — Jurors determined conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay the parents of Jesse Lewis damage awards of $4.1 million, but the Info Wars host isn't closing his checkbook just yet.

On Friday, the Austin, TX, jury will be asked to decide on damages intended as punishment, after they hear testimony from financial experts regarding Jones' net worth, and the financial health of his company, Free Speech Systems.

"One thing's for sure. Mr. Jones is not going to sleep easy tonight after that verdict," Parents' lawyer Mark Bankston told the Austin-American Statesman. At the start of the trial, Bankston and his team told jurors the radio host should pay $150 million in damages.

Jesse was among the 20 children and six staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School who were killed in 2012 by a 20-year-old gunman. Jones told listeners to his InfoWars show the deaths were a "false flag" being promoted by gun control fanatics. He has since recanted, telling the jury Wednesday that he definitely thinks the attack happened.

Jesse's parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety because of repeated threats from Jones' followers, according to a therapist who testified Monday. The following day both parents were taken into protective isolation following unspecified incidents.

The jury announced their verdict around 4:15 p.m. Thursday, awarding Heslin $50,000 for past damage and $10,000 for future damage to his reputation, and $50,000 for past anguish. Each parent was awarded $1.5 million for past mental anguish and $500,000 for future anguish. Bankston told reporters the $4.1 million will go to the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, the charity begun by Scarlett Lewis after her son's death.

Jones' next courtroom showdown will be later this month in Connecticut, where the plaintiffs will include eight families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, as well as an FBI agent who responded to the shooting. The third defamation lawsuit, brought by the parents of slain Sandy Hook first-grader Noah Pozner, will be held September in Texas.