The wife of embattled and recently jailed Sheriff Robert Arnold spoke out on the incident that put him behind bars.
Megan Arnold told NewsChannel 5 that even amid the investigation, her feelings for her husband have not changed.
"I still love him. I do love him. I always will. It was an argument that got blown out of proportion," said Megan Arnold.
She said putting her husband behind bars was wrong.
"I don't think he needs to be incarcerated," said Megan.
Her husband was charged with 14 counts of corruption related to the sale of E-Cigs in the county jail. His trial was set for February, but was free on pre-trial release until Wednesday.
"It's very difficult. Very stressful," said Megan.
A federal judge revoked Arnold's pre-trial release after hearing accusations that he abused his sheriff's powers and allegations of a domestic assault on his wife.
Megan would not talk about the alleged incident, but said her marriage is just like any other.
"The state of our relationship is like any normal couple. We all have our good days and our bad days ... and you think he's being punished for a bad day? I do," said Megan.
Audio of Megan talking to a friend about the alleged assault, and how she feared her husband was played in court, but Arnold was never charged with domestic assault.
Megan said she didn't know what to expect when her husband went before the judge Wednesday. She wasn't in the courtroom, but stayed in touch via text message.
"I was right there at the courthouse. I was right there behind it the whole time," said Megan.
"He started texting me at 10 after 10 because she hadn't come out yet. I asked was it over? No we are just waiting and his last text to me was bye bye," she said.
Her husband was gone - handcuffed and taken to a federal detention facility in Kentucky. Megan wouldn't say if he'll consider resigning as sheriff if that would lead to his release.
Yet, she hopes he gets out well before his February trial.
"So your expectation is that some point before the five months he'll be out. That's what I'm hoping. I don't think he needs to be incarcerated," said Megan.
Megan would not answer questions about the alleged assault, the E-cigs case or about her husband's possible resignation. She declined to answer most all of the questions at this time because of the pending litigation, but promised there's much more to tell when the time is right.
Late Thursday evening a citizen group in Rutherford County has filed an ouster suit to have Robert Arnold removed from office and that process could take months. In the meantime, Arnold is still collecting a pay check from the county.
