DANVILLE, VA. — Shotsie Buck-Hayes received a 40-year prison sentence on Thursday in Danville Circuit Court following the 2025 attack on City Council member Lee Vogler. Buck-Hayes had pleaded guilty on April 1 to one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated malicious wounding.

The charges originated from an assault on Lee Vogler, a Danville City Council member, on July 30, 2025. Witnesses reported that Buck-Hayes entered Vogler's Danville office with a bucket of gasoline, doused him, pursued him from the building, and set him on fire.

Circuit Judge James Reynolds sentenced Buck-Hayes to 10 years for attempted murder, with five years of that term suspended. For the malicious wounding charge, Judge Reynolds handed down a life sentence, suspending all but 35 years of that term.

As part of the April 1 plea agreement, a breaking and entering charge against Buck-Hayes was dropped. Lee Vogler's wife, Blair Vogler, testified that Lee Vogler sustained burns on 60% of his body as a result of the attack.

Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Newman stated that the sentence for the wounding charge exceeded the amount called for under citizen guidelines. "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.

Lee Vogler and his family were present at the sentencing hearing in Danville Circuit Court. Sgt. Gerrit Clay testified that Buck-Hayes had stated his motive for setting Vogler on fire was an alleged affair between Vogler and Buck-Hayes' wife. Following the incident, Lee Vogler has resumed his duties on the Danville City Council.