ELKHART — A Middlebury man who was arrested recently in connection with the death of an Elkhart man in July last year will appear in court Wednesday for his initial hearing.

Larry Hewitt, 42, of 52940 York Hills Drive, Middlebury, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide, both of which are Class C felonies, according to court documents. A warrant for Hewitt’s arrest was issued Dec. 26.

The charges are in connection with the death of Charles Wolfinger, 53, of Elkhart. Wolfinger’s body was pulled out from the Elkhart River behind Martin’s Supermarket on July 17, 2012, shortly before 9 p.m., according to a press release from the Elkhart Police Department.

According to a probable cause affidavit for Hewitt’s case, the Elkhart Police Department was called to an address within the City of Elkhart to meet with a man who claimed he had killed another man.

Hewitt told police he was drinking with a friend, when the two began fighting in the river behind Martin’s Supermarket on Jackson Street. Hewitt added that during the fight Wolfinger became unresponsive; when that happened, Hewitt panicked and left, he told officials.

It was determined that Wolfinger’s cause of death was of multiple blunt force injuries, possible drowning and acute intoxication, following an autopsy by Dr. Joseph Prahlow. Wolfinger had injured to his head and torso, including several broken ribs and injuries to internal organs.

Hewitt demonstrated the force with which he hit Wolfinger’s head and body against a large log and he told police that after Wolfinger became unresponsive he kicked Wolfinger’s body farther into the river and then left the scene.

Hewitt was arrested in West Memphis, Ark., last week and extradited to Indiana from Crittenden County Jail. He was booked in the Elkhart County Jail on Tuesday.

Hewitt’s initial hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 a.m.