Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Setting Virginia Council Member on Fire in Alleged Affair Attack

A man who pleaded guilty to setting a Virginia city council member on fire following an alleged affair has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison. Shotsie Buck-Hayes entered his guilty plea in April for charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding stemming from his attack on Danville City Council Member Lee Vogler.

The Assault and Its Alleged Motive

Court testimony revealed that on July 30, 2025, Buck-Hayes confronted Vogler in his Danville office, dousing him with gasoline. He then pursued the council member outside the building before setting him alight. During his sentencing hearing, Buck-Hayes addressed the court, offering what Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman described as "what he claimed to be an apology." Buck-Hayes reiterated that his actions were provoked by an alleged affair between Vogler and his wife, Mary Alice. This accusation, however, has never been substantiated by evidence.

Court records indicate that Mary Alice filed for divorce in mid-July 2025, approximately two weeks prior to the violent incident. In September 2025, during the grand jury proceedings, Danville Police Department Sgt. Gerrit Clay testified that Buck-Hayes' intent was to kill Vogler, a married father of two, due to this unproven allegation.

Severe Injuries and Prolonged Recovery

The attack left Council Member Vogler with extensive second- and third-degree burns covering 60% of his body, according to testimony from his wife, Blair Vogler. He was immediately airlifted to the burn unit at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he began a recovery period spanning several months. Blair Vogler described the severity of his condition, explaining that skin grafts required removing an additional 35% of his skin, leaving him "95% open" at one point. She further detailed the complications her husband endured, including infections, burn shock, septic shock, smoke inhalation injury, and burns to his lungs, which subsequently led to pneumonia.

Sentencing and Legal Outlook

Circuit Judge James Reynolds imposed a life sentence on Buck-Hayes, comprising 10 years for attempted murder and a life term for aggravated malicious wounding. Portions of both sentences were suspended, ultimately resulting in the 40-year incarceration. Attorneys representing Buck-Hayes have stated their intention to appeal the sentence. They also noted that their client is not a U.S. citizen and will likely be returned to his home country, the United Kingdom, in the future.

Return to Public Service and Ongoing Challenges

While medical professionals initially estimated a six-month hospitalization period, Vogler was discharged on October 21, 2025, nearly three months sooner than anticipated. Remarkably, on the very day of his discharge, he attended his first city council meeting since the assault, where he was greeted with strong support from his fellow council members.

A December 2025 update posted by Blair Vogler on a public fundraising platform underscored the extensive and ongoing nature of his recovery. She conveyed that "Recovery remains a long road—months to years—and will include orthopedic surgeries for a condition called heterotopic ossification, as well as future cosmetic and laser procedures to improve functionality, range of motion, and everyday independence." She specifically highlighted that "One of Lee’s greatest challenges right now is working to regain use of the left hand due to nerve damage." Vogler was initially elected to the city council in 2012 at the age of 24, making him the youngest person ever to serve in that capacity.