Feb. 2 nd. 2013
Jackass # 2 John Ludwig Finally Goes To Prison ... And It's Not Over Yet
Greenville Irate Over Maserati Manslaughterer
November 18, 2009
Residents of Greenville, S.C. (a.k.a. G-Vegas) are up in arms this week – furious over the outcome of a high-profile trial involving a prominent local businessman who they thought was headed for the slammer.
They shouldn’t be …
For those of you unfamiliar with the case of John Ludwig, Jr., he’s the Greenville entrepreneur who earlier this year accidentally drove his Maserati into a house, killing a man inside.
Police say Ludwig – who had a history of speeding tickets – was showing off his hot car to a friend.
Originally charged with murder, Ludwig was sentenced on Monday by Circuit Judge James Williams Jr. to three years probation (well, and 500 hours of community service) after pleading guilty to reckless homicide in connection with Bardsley’s death.
Prosecutor Bob Ariail said he was “shocked” by the sentence Williams imposed, although Ariail himself authorized a plea agreement that did not mandate jail time.
The case has attracted all sorts of attention – and outrage - in the Upstate. Specifically, it’s prompted literally dozens of emails to FITS asking why it’s taken us so long to pick up on the story.
Well, we’re busy.
Anyway, as much as we’d love to hate on the rich white guy who went out and bought a high-powered lawyer (Billy Wilkins) to keep himself out of jail, this case strikes us as an example of misplaced frustration.
First of all, according to the Greenville News the family of the victim will be compensated to the tune of $3 million for their loss – which is probably why they declined to speak out against Ludwig at this week’s sentencing hearing.
Also, if Ariail was so adamant that Ludwig receive jail time, then he shouldn’t have accepted a plea deal that left open the possibility that the guy would walk.
Duh.
Also, Ariail made a major tactical error by pursuing a headline-grabbing murder charge in the first place.
Seriously … how exactly do you go about proving “malice aforethought” when the crime involves accidentally driving one’s car through the house of somebody they’ve never met before?
Yeah …
At the end of the day, a tragic accident occurred for which the victims have received what appears to be suitable compensation.
Should Ludwig have been thrown in jail for at least a few months to think about the error of his ways?
Sure, but point the finger at the solicitor in this case for trying to make a ridiculous charge stick …
WEB EXTRAS
John Ludwig Pleads Guilty, Gets No Jail Time (WYFF)
Solicitor’s Plea Deal In Ludwig Case (Greenville News)
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