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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994                   TAG: 9407130048
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MAN GETS 19 YEARS IN WOMAN'S BEATING

A Roanoke man who pistol-whipped his former girlfriend and set her hair on fire while holding her at gunpoint in an apartment was sentenced Thursday to 19 years in prison.

"This was a case of torture," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Dennis Nagel said.

Jerry E. Stanley, 32, received the sentence from Roanoke Circuit Judge Diane Strickland after pleading guilty in April to breaking and entering, malicious wounding, use of a firearm and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Assistant Public Defender Steve Milani said Stanley had been dating the victim, Merissa VanHorn, before the Jan. 27 incident.

Stanley has said that VanHorn, 22, broke up with him while he was serving a jail sentence. The day he got out of jail, Stanley went looking for her.

Using a key she had given him when they were dating, Stanley let himself in to VanHorn's apartment on Allison Avenue Southwest.

Upset to find that a man was visiting VanHorn, Stanley pulled a handgun and threatened to kill her, according to evidence presented when he pleaded guilty.

Stanley then punched VanHorn and struck her in the head with his gun as her friend ran for help. 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.

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

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

VanHorn was treated at a hospital for cuts to her head.

by CNB