A Virginia man who set a city council member on fire in what prosecutors described as a jealousy-fueled attack received his sentence during a Thursday court hearing.
Circuit Judge James Reynolds sentenced Shotsie Buck-Hayes to 40 years behind bars for trying to burn Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler alive on July 30, 2025.
Authorities said Buck-Hayes walked into Vogler’s office, poured a bucket of gasoline over him, pursued him out of the building and ignited him, while accusing the married father of two of having an affair with his wife.
Buck-Hayes’ attorneys said they intend to challenge the sentence and believe he may ultimately be sent back to his home country, the United Kingdom, because he is not a U.S. citizen, ABC11 reported.
Vogler appeared in court with his family, delivering an emotional statement about the devastating assault that left him scarred and with burns over 60% of his body.
In addition to second- and third-degree burns across more than half of his body, Vogler suffered burn shock, septic shock and smoke-related lung damage. He has since required multiple surgeries to address the severe injuries.
Buck-Hayes also addressed the court and offered what Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman described as “what he claimed to be an apology,” while continuing to insist he acted because of Vogler’s alleged affair with his then-wife, Mary Alice.
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Buck-Hayes and Mary Alice had filed for divorce only weeks before he poured gasoline on Vogler and set him ablaze.
It remains unclear if there is any validity to Buck-Hayes’ claims that Vogler and his wife engaged in adultery.
The maniac pled guilty in April to one count each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding.
Judge Reynolds sentenced Buck-Hayes to 10 years in prison on the attempted murder charge, with five of those years suspended.
Reynolds also handed down a life sentence for the malicious wounding charge, suspending all but 35 years of that term.
Newman noted that the judge imposed a sentence three times the one called for under citizen guidelines for the wounding charge.
“I’m glad the court agreed that it’s an aggravating case and went above the guidelines and sentenced in such a way to hopefully hold this defendant accountable for this horrific act,” Newman said.
With Post wires
