Danville councilman attacker sentenced to 40 years

A Danville, Virginia, city council member who was set on fire last year saw his attacker sentenced to 40 years in prison on Thursday. Shotsie BuckHayes received the sentence after pleading guilty in April to attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding for the July 30, 2025, attack on Councilman Lee Vogler.

Circuit Judge James Reynolds imposed the sentence in Danville Circuit Court, where Vogler and his family were present. The judge sentenced BuckHayes to 10 years for attempted murder, with five years suspended, and a life sentence for aggravated malicious wounding, with all but 35 years suspended. Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Newman said the sentence for the wounding charge was three times higher than standard citizen guidelines recommended, calling the case "aggravating" and the act "horrific."

Prosecutors said BuckHayes walked into Vogler's Danville office with a bucket of gasoline, doused the councilman, chased him outside, and set him on fire. Court records indicated BuckHayes told investigators he intended to kill Vogler, motivated by his belief that Vogler had an affair with his wife, Mary Alice. Prosecutors noted the addition of Styrofoam to the...