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Sharon standoff suspect back in court

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Eugene J. Lehman

ELKHORN — A Sharon man accused of engaging in a 13-hour standoff with police was charged Thursday with first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of firearm by a felon and resisting arrest.

Eugene J. Lehman, 45, of Sharon faces 26 years in prison and $60,000 in fines. He is being held on $100,000 cash bond.

According to the criminal complaint:

The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Lehman’s wife at about 11:27 a.m. Jan. 17. The woman reported she and two children had left the house safely, but Lehman and her had engaged in a verbal and physical argument the about nine hours earlier.

During the argument, Lehman broke pictures hanging on a wall, and the woman heard Lehman load a gun from a nearby closet. She went downstairs and heard about 12 gunshots.

The couple’s son and a friend of the boy’s were downstairs. Lehman’s wife left with the children and stayed at a friend’s house for the night. She told authorities she was afraid Lehman would shoot her.

The Lehman family returned to their house the next day, and the couple began to argue again. At one point, Lehman had a rifle and ammunition and told his wife, “Get the hell out of the house. I won’t hesitate to shoot.”

Sheriff David Graves said police responded to Lehman’s house on Highway 67 in Sharon minutes before noon Jan. 17.

Authorities were told Lehman was heavily armed, and he fired several shots at police throughout the day, the sheriff said. In a message on his wife’s cell phone, Lehman said, “They’re not going to take me alive, and I’ll take some of them with me before I go.”

People living in two homes were evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Armored vehicles and dozens of law enforcement from at least three counties and multiple police agencies helped secure the area.

Lehman was hospitalized after shooting himself in the abdomen near the end of the daylong standoff.

Lehman’s next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.