Gardner being charged; Pigg's wife speaks out

SULLIVAN CO., Ind. (WTHI) - INITIAL HEARING

James Gardner of Elnora, Indiana faces charges of involuntary manslaughter.

The charges follow a bar altercation resulted in the death of one man on September 1, 2012 in Dugger, Indiana.

Gardner faces two to eight years if convicted, with a possible eight-year maximum sentence. He is currently being held on a $15,000 bond.

A court date of December 11, 2012 has been set for Gardner to appear.

Gardner's attorney entered a not-guilty plea with the judge.

• LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORY | Click here

News 10 will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest developments.

-----------------------------------------

RICHARD PIGG'S WIFE SPEAKS OUT

A man accused of killing another man inside an Indiana tavern made his first appearance in court Friday.

It was an emotional morning for Sarah Pigg , after she attended 24-year-old James Gardner's initial court hearing.

The man who Sarah Pigg says killed her husband.

"I'm left without a husband; and, ya know, my kids, who were his step kids, loved him dearly,” said Mrs. Pigg .

Gardner faces a charge of Involuntary Manslaughter.

Authorities believe Gardner punched Richard Pigg inside the Up-town Tavern, in Dugger , Indiana.

Mrs. Pigg says that punch led to Mr. Pigg's death.

"I talked to him on the phone at 10:45 p.m . and he was fine. I told him I loved him, then he told me he loved me. I hung up the phone, and that was the last I talked to him,” Mrs. Pigg said.

Mrs. Pigg stated her husband wasn't a fighter and that night Gardner continued to harass her husband.

"According to friends that we have that actually work at the bar, they say he had walked away from this fight. According to the video that they have, he actually walked away from it three different times,” said Mrs. Pigg .

Friday, the judge entered a not-guilty plea with Gardner's attorney.

If convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter, he faces a maximum of eight years in prison.

Mrs. Pigg says, "He needs help, he needs serious help and he definitely needs more than two to four years. And it doesn't matter what anyone says or does to Mr. Gardner, [Richard Pigg’s ] gone."

Mrs. Pigg says ultimately it doesn't matter what happens because nothing will bring back her loved one.

Gardner is currently being held on $15,000 bond.