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Guilty pleas entered in Sharon police standoff

ELKHORN — A Sharon man pleaded guilty Friday to multiple felonies related to him shooting at law enforcement officers during a 13-hour standoff at his home.

The police standoff with Eugene J. Lehman, 46, ended with volleys of tear gas and Lehman shooting himself in the stomach.

Lehman entered his pleas before Walworth County Judge Robert Kennedy. A sentencing date was set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2.

Lehman pleaded guilty to endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon, failing to comply with police, endangering safety and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also has a felony burglary conviction in Illinois.

The four new charges could result in a combined prison term of more than 30 years. No sentencing agreement was announced at the plea hearing. Three related counts were dismissed.

Police from three counties in Wisconsin and one in Illinois were involved in the Jan. 17 incident.

According to the criminal complaint:

Lehman burned some of his wife’s clothes and shot several rounds over the heads of officers after a domestic dispute. His family fled the home and called police, according to the complaint.

Armed vehicles and multiple police agencies helped secure the area.

People living in two nearby homes were evacuated from the neighborhood. No one else was injured.

Lehman had earlier considered entering a plea of not guilty by reason of mental instability but did not.

On Friday, Lehman told Kennedy he was taking medication for depression but that it did not affect his ability to understand the court proceedings.