Ludwig violates probation

By Cindy Landrum  

NOVEMBER 10, 2011 1:39 p.m. (0)

John Ludwig, the Greenville man who served no jail time after he lost control of his Maserati and it went through a house, killing the homeowner, could find out on Jan. 13 whether he’ll have to go to prison.

Ludwig faces two counts of probation violation after a weekend arrest on a criminal domestic violence charge.

He was released on a $10,000 bond and ordered to appear in court for a probation revocation hearing on Jan. 13.

Ludwig avoided jail time when a judge suspended his five-year prison sentence to three years probation. Ludwig pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. Bill Bardsley was killed as he watched television on his couch.

The sentence shocked then-13th Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail, outraged the community and had some in the legal community talking about a two-tiered justice system.

Ludwig also faces a third-degree assault and battery charge in connection with a confrontation in downtown Greenville in which he is accused of spitting in a man’s face. Ludwig asked for a jury trial and no court date has been set yet, said Greenville Assistant City Attorney Bob Coler. The city’s next round of jury trials starts Jan. 23.

In the latest incident, Ludwig is accused of slapping or touching his wife in the back of the head during an argument over writing a check to pay the mortgage, according to a warrant and a police report.

Ludwig’s father-in-law, who lives in North Carolina, called police and told them his daughter was being assaulted.

Ludwig’s wife later told police she didn’t want her husband arrested.

Peter O’Boyle, spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, said in probation revocation cases, the judge considers such things as the circumstances and severity of new arrests and charges, the person’s compliance with the terms of probation and other factors.

“It’s completely up to the judge,” he said. “Every case is different.”

The judge could decide to give a defendant facing probation revocation one more chance or to impose sanctions such as increased supervision, public service work or weekend jail time, O’Boyle said. In Ludwig’s case, he’s already on the highest form of probation supervision, O’Boyle said.