Ludwig in trouble again

By Cindy Landrum  

AUGUST 1, 2010 12:53 p.m. (1)

John Ludwig Jr., the Greenville businessman who avoided jail time for plowing his Maserati through a house and killing the homeowner as he watched television, faces more legal trouble.

Ludwig, of 878 Club House Dr., Sunset, was arrested Sunday, his 38^th birthday, and charged with third degree assault and battery, according to a warrant.

Ludwig surrendered to Greenville police officers and was taken to the Greenville County Detention Center. He was released on a personal recognizance bond and ordered to stay away from the victim. Officials would not identify the victim, who was believed to be someone Ludwig knew through business.

The victim, a 50-year-old man, told police he walked into Barley’s Tap Room on July 20 around 7 p.m. and was approached by Ludwig.

According to the warrant, Ludwig, who called the victim by name, reached out to shake his hand and forcefully pulled the man toward him. The man told police he was able to break free from Ludwig after several attempts.

The man told police Ludwig made a vulgar statement to him and also spit in his face.

Last year, he received three years probation and 500 hours community service after pleading guilty to reckless homicide in connection with an April 2009 wreck in which his Maserati plowed through the home of Bill Bardsley, killing him as he watched television.

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

Ludwig also received probation after pleading guilty to assault of a high and aggravated nature in connection with a July 2008 case where Ludwig kicked in the door of the home of a man who was involved with his then-estranged wife.

In a deal reached before the reckless homicide sentencing, Ariail agreed he would not seek a greater sentence on that charge than what Ludwig received for reckless homicide.

And finally in February, a Greenville Municipal Court jury found Ludwig guilty of criminal domestic violence first offense for hitting his then-estranged wife in February 2009, two months before the fatal wreck.

Municipal Judge Matt Hawley said he was obligated to suspend a jail sentence in a criminal domestic violence first offense case and then ordered Ludwig to pay a fine of $1,000.