DANVILLE, VA – A man who doused a Danville City Councilman in gasoline and set him on fire during a jealous rage was sentenced to 40 years in prison during a emotional emotional hearing on Thursday.
The Sentencing
Circuit Judge James Reynolds handed down the lengthy sentence to Shotsie Buck-Hayes for the July 30, 2025, attack on Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler.
Buck-Hayes pleaded guilty in April to one count each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. Judge Reynolds sentenced him to:
- 10 years for attempted murder (with five years suspended).
- A life term for malicious wounding (with all but 35 years suspended).
Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman noted that the judge went significantly above standard sentencing guidelines due to the horrific nature of the crime.
Details of the Attack
According to court testimony, Buck-Hayes entered Vogler’s office, doused him with a bucket of gasoline, and chased him out of the building before setting him ablaze. Buck-Hayes claimed he was motivated by an alleged affair between Vogler and his then-wife, Mary Alice. The couple had filed for divorce weeks prior to the incident. Authorities have not confirmed if there was any validity to the adultery claims.
Buck-Hayes, a United Kingdom citizen, offered what prosecutors described as a weak apology during the hearing while remaining defensive. His defense attorneys stated they plan to appeal the sentence and expect him to eventually be deported back to the UK.
Victim’s Emotional Testimony
Councilman Vogler and his family attended the sentencing, where Vogler delivered a powerful statement regarding his life-altering injuries. The attack left Vogler with second- and third-degree burns covering 60% of his body.
In addition to severe scarring, Vogler suffered burn shock, septic shock, and severe lung damage from smoke inhalation. He has already endured multiple surgeries, with an extensive recovery process still ahead.
