132-year sentence in shootout: Judge tells Martinsville gunman - 'Your apology rings hollow'

MARTINSVILLE

A Martinsville man was sentenced to 132 years in prison for shooting at local police officers who tried to arrest him.

Richard Simmons, 28, will serve prison time after he was convicted of four counts of attempted murder, two counts of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a charge of unlawful use of body armor and a charge of possession of marijuana. He plans to appeal that conviction and asked a Morgan County judge to appoint a public defender to represent him in his appeal.

Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega said Simmons likely will spend nearly the rest of his life in prison, since he would serve 66 years even if he gets half of his sentence reduced for good behavior.

Sonnega argued for a long prison sentence at a hearing Friday that focused largely on Simmons’ character, substance abuse problems, criminal record, failure to pay more than $12,000 in child support and shirking of probation requirements.

Simmons previously was convicted of a felony charge of burglary and seven misdemeanor charges for various offenses such as possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. His criminal record got progressively worse over time, Sonnega said.

Simmons didn’t want to return to jail and was willing to kill so he wouldn’t have to, Sonnega said.

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