Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 27, 1994                   TAG: 9404270080
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HAIR FIRE RESULTS IN CONVICTION

Jerry E. Stanley, 32, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, malicious wounding, use of a firearm and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

He faces up to 48 years in prison.

At a hearing Tuesday in Roanoke Circuit Court, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Teaster gave the following summary:

At about 5 p.m. Jan.27, Stanley entered Merissa VanHorn's apartment in the 400 block of Allison Avenue Southwest, using a key she had given him during an earlier relationship.

Upset that a man was then visiting the 22-year-old VanHorn, Stanley pulled a handgun and threatened to kill her.

Stanley then punched VanHorn and struck her in the head with his gun as her friend ran to call police. Before police arrived, Stanley used a cigarette lighter to set VanHorn's hair on fire.

VanHorn's hair was singed, but she was able to put out the fire before it caused serious injury. She was treated at a hospital, however, for cuts to her head.

When three police officers arrived at the apartment a few minutes later, Stanley pointed his gun at one of them before retreating into the kitchen - still holding VanHorn at gunpoint.

The officers drew their revolvers and, after a brief standoff, apprehended Stanley when he dropped his gun.

At the time of the incident, police have said, Stanley was under a court order to have no contact with VanHorn. Prosecutors said Tuesday that Stanley had earlier been convicted of a drug charge in Texas.

Assistant Public Defender Steve Milani asked that a background report on Stanley be completed before he is sentenced June16. Judge Diane Strickland also asked for a report detailing the crime's impact on VanHorn.