Biker murder case to start Monday

A man charged with murder in Casey County will be tried by a Warren County jury Monday.

William Robert “Bobby” Rigdon, 30, of Lebanon, is accused of shooting Wendall Gleason Pyles, 50, on Sept. 26, 2012, at Tarter Gate Co. in Casey County, where Pyles worked.

The case garnered considerable publicity in Casey County, leading to a change of venue for the jury trial.

A pretrial conference Wednesday in Warren Circuit Court addressed a number of pretrial motions, including the level of court security needed while the case is being tried.

Judge Judy Vance of the 29th Judicial Circuit, which covers Casey and Adair counties, ordered court security to be posted at the doors to the fourth-floor courtroom in the Warren County Justice Center, where the trial will take place.

Kentucky State Police Special Response Team members were seated in the courtroom during Wednesday’s conference and are expected to maintain their presence throughout the trial.

Pyles was a member of the Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Club, and authorities allege he was shot by fellow club member Rigdon because David Salyers, then-president of the club’s Frankfort chapter, was upset with Pyles over unpaid debts and the manner in which Pyles attempted to leave the club.

According to reports, Salyers purchased a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, club patches and other paraphernalia and paid for gas for Pyles with the understanding Pyles would eventually repay the debts. Pyles eventually decided he wanted to leave the club, but broke Iron Horsemen protocol by not turning in his patches and paraphernalia in person, according to reports.

Salyers was found guilty of complicity to murder last year and sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison. 

His case was moved from Casey County to Green County because of concerns that two of Salyers’ relatives might attempt to intimidate jurors, according to reports.

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