Man who shot sheriff pleads guilty to arson
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The defendant, Barry P. Simons, 46, entered guilty pleas Wednesday before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley to charges of aggravated arson, aggravated assault, second-offense DUI, and leaving the scene of an accident.
The incident which led to his return to the penitentiary, where he had already served 10 years for shooting Sheriff Jackie Matheny when he was a police rookie, happened last year when Simons and his brother-in-law had a confrontation.
On that occasion, Simons pulled a gun but was disarmed by his brother-in-law. However, later in the evening, Simons was caught by the same brother-in-law, dousing the house in gasoline in an apparent attempt to burn them alive while they slept.
His nine-year sentence comes after he served 10 years of a 32-year sentence for shooting Matheny following a pursuit in 1986. On that occasion, Simons ran into a home and emerged with a .22 rifle at which time he shot the city patrolman in the arm. Matheny had been elected sheriff of Warren County by the time Simons was released on parole in 1996. Simons had a brush with the law in 2001 when he tried to pull a woman over near Morrison while posing as a deputy.
His recent conviction means he could be held accountable for parole violation since his sentence for shooting Matheny does not expire until 2014.