John Ludwig, Jr. Found In Contempt, But Won't Go Back to Jail

John Ludwig, Jr was once again in the news Wednesday, this time accused of violating his parole from an earlier charge. Ludwig was brought before Judge Matt Hawley in Greenville Thursday afternoon to answer a complaint against him by his ex-wife for violating a court order. A previous criminal domestic violence charge against Ludwig ordered him to stay away from Donavan Ludwig. The incident report from the Grenville County Sheriff's Office states that while Ludwig was jailed on a murder charge in May, he asked a fellow inmate to write a letter for him and put it on the door of his ex-wife's home.

In court today, Donavan Ludwig said the letter scared her and she feared for the safety of her children. She said was worried that a criminal knew where she and her children lived.

The inmate who allegedly helped Ludwig also took the stand. Timothy Herring says he met John Ludwig in jail in around May 10th. He said they attended bible studies and he asked Ludwig for advice on how to be successful in business. Herring called Ludwig his mentor. He claimed Ludwig asked him to take a letter to his wife and kids telling them he loves and misses them and what he's observed of Ludwig while in jail. Ludwig then allegedly gave the name and address of his ex-wife's house. Herring was released May 2 and he says he wrote it that day and put it on the door of Donavan Ludwig's house later.

Then John Ludwig took the stand. Ludwig claims he found out about the letter at 11:30 Wednesday morning. He said he's received about 15 handwritten letters from prisoners since his release, and he is 100% sure he never asked Tim Herring to write a letter to his wife. Ludwig said there wasn't 2 seconds in jail people weren't on top of him and all over him, and there was no way he could have asked about the letter. Ludwig closed by saying he never thought he and Donavan would patch it up, so a letter wouldn't even matter.

Judge Hawley claimed to have never seen anything like this in 32 years of practicing law. Ludwig's attorney Billy Wilkins said Ludwig has several disorders including ADHD and OCD, including fear of wearing straps (seatbelts/electronic monitoring).

In passing down his ruling, Hawley said he "worries about the peace and dignity of this (Greenville) community." Hawley believes that Herring was asked by Ludwig to write the letter and that Ludwig did violate the bond order and he is in contempt of court.

Judge Hawley's Ruling:

-Ludwig will be electronically monitored
-Ludwig is to have no contact with wife. Ludwig's family can also have no contact with wife. (Unless grandparents about kids directly)
-No contact with convicted felons or inmates -Report with parole people daily for 1st - 2 weeks
-5 thousand fine for contempt

Melissa Keeney wraps up Wednesday's events.