Crime & Safety

No Murder Charges in Loco Joe's Death

Solicitor's Office charges Michael Sigler with assault and battery of a highly aggravated nature.

Don't expect murder or manslaughter charges for the man accused of assaulting James Beatty, who later died as a result of his injuries, according to the Solicitor's Office. 

According to Assistant Solicitor Russell Hilton, Michael David Sigler is charged with assault and battery of a highly aggravated nature for the Jan. 10 incident at Loco Joe's. Sigler is currently out on bond. 

Hilton said the elements in the case don't add up to murder. 

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"It's not automatically a murder (when someone has died)," he said. "We felt like assault and battery of highly aggravated nature was the best charge, carried the most time (compared to a manslaughter charge), and it fit the facts."

Cause of death for Beatty, 51, was ruled brainstem herniation, traumatic brain injury, intraparenchymal bleeding and subarachnoid hemorrhages by Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet. 

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According to the incident report, Beatty was inside Loco Joe's when Sigler arrived. Sigler allegedly went up to Beatty and struck him in the head. Beatty then fell to the concrete floor.

When deputies arrived on scene, Beatty was on the floor of the bar unconscious. Sigler had allegedly fled the scene. Deputies found Sigler at a residence on Wyndham Drive. 

Sigler denied being in an altercation at Loco Joe's, but deputies said he matched the suspect's description. Sigler was brought to Loco Joe's and four witnesses identified him as the suspect, according to the report.

No court date has been scheduled, according to Hilton.


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